Iranian Air Defense Hit a US F-35 Fighter Jet

A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East.

This occurred after the aircraft sustained damage from Iranian fire, according to CNN.

For its part, the Iranian news agency IRNA released footage of the destruction of an aerial target resembling an F-35 fighter jet.

According to a spokesperson for US Central Command, the fifth-generation fighter jet was conducting a combat mission over Iranian territory. Due to the damage sustained, the pilot aborted the mission and landed.

The moment the F-35 fighter jet was targeted by Iran’s air defense. pic.twitter.com/ofI4v3YMIV

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) March 19, 2026

The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition.

This is the first instance of an American aircraft being shot down by Iranian forces since the war began in late February. Both the US and Israel are using F-35s in this conflict.

On March 2, three American F-15 fighter jets crashed over Kuwait as a result of “friendly fire.” All six crew members ejected and were successfully evacuated.