US F-35 damaged by suspected Iranian fire makes emergency landing, sources say - CNN

CNN
March 19, 2026
3 min read

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A U.S. F-35 fighter jet sustained damage from suspected Iranian fire and made an emergency landing.

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A U.S. F-35 fighter jet sustained damage from suspected Iranian fire and made an emergency landing, according to sources cited by CNN. The incident reflects escalating military tensions in a region where U.S. and Iranian forces have faced off over the past year. An F-35 represents one of the world's most advanced combat aircraft, and any damage from hostile fire underscores the real risks to American military operations in the Middle East. The emergency landing suggests the aircraft was still flyable despite taking fire, though the full extent of damage and circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear from available reports.

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