Key Facts
• At 12:45 PM on September 17, two F-35A jets made emergency landings at Aomori Airport.
• One jet experienced an unspecified issue; the second landed for safety assurance.
• Both jets belong to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Misawa Air Base.
• No injuries reported; each jet had one pilot onboard.
• The jets were conducting air defense training, departing Misawa Base at 11:30 AM.
• The issue was detected 310 km northwest over the Sea of Japan.
• Aomori Airport’s runway was closed for 10 minutes for safety checks.
• Two commercial flights were delayed by up to 20 minutes.
• The jets are parked on a taxiway, avoiding disruption to civilian flights.
• Maintenance teams from Misawa Base arrived at 4:00 PM for inspections.
• The airport taxiway closure is scheduled to end at 7:30 AM on September 18.
• Misawa Base officials aim to return the jets after repairs and investigations.
• Misawa City has requested measures to prevent recurrence and ensure safety.
• A similar emergency landing occurred at Aomori Airport in June 2024.
Summary
Two F-35A stealth fighter jets from Misawa Air Base made emergency landings at Aomori Airport on September 17 due to an unspecified issue with one aircraft. Both pilots were unharmed. The jets were conducting air defense training when the problem was detected over the Sea of Japan. Aomori Airport’s runway was briefly closed, causing minor delays to two commercial flights. Maintenance teams are inspecting the jets, with the taxiway closure expected to end by the morning of September 18. Misawa Base officials plan to return the jets after repairs and investigations. Misawa City has called for enhanced safety measures to prevent future incidents.
