US fighter jet makes emergency landing after being struck by Iran in first hit since war began

The emergency landing came a week after a US refueling tanker crashed over Iraq, killing all six crew members
PUBLISHED MAR 20, 2026
The jet is believed to have been struck by Iranian fire during the combat mission, sources said (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
The jet is believed to have been struck by Iranian fire during the combat mission, sources said (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Since the beginning of the US-Iran war, none of the American jets were struck by the Iranian fire. But just before midnight Wednesday, March 18, a US fighter jet conducted an emergency landing, believed to have been hit by Tehran.

Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, told The Independent, "We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US airbase after flying a combat mission over Iran.”

US fighter jet emergency landing under probe

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, is chained down on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo by U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
In this handout photo provided by the US Navy, An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, is chained down on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea (US Navy via Getty Images)

“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation,” he added.

This came after the Trump administration had repeatedly asserted that the US is winning the war, which was launched with Israel on February 28, killing the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.

Pete Hegseth claims Iran left with no navy, no air force

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, March 19, 2026 (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently claimed that “Iran has no air defense. Iran has no air force. Iran has no Navy. Their missiles, their missile launchers and drones being destroyed or shot out of the sky.”

Also, President Donald Trump had proudly announced that the US is “doing very well in Iran, you see the result. It's been amazing, we’ve knocked out 42 navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the navy.”

“We knocked out their air force, we knocked out their communications,” he claimed, before calling Iranian leaders “bad people”.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are escorted as they walk to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are escorted as they walk to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump says waging war against Iran is in favour of the world

The POTUS added, “When you look at October 7 and beyond October 7, when you look at all the killing they’ve done for 47 years, this had to be done. They were very close to a nuclear weapon. They are crazy, and they would have used it, as he declared, “So we did the world a favor.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that he did not ask the US to engage in war with Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu claims he did not 'convince President Trump' of war

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Witnessed by President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu signed a peace deal with the UAE and a declaration of intent to make peace with Bahrain. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as US President Donald Trump looks on during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“I misled no one. I didn't have to convince President Trump to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program, putting it underground and being able to launch nuclear tipped missiles at the United States,” Netanyahu asserted.

He also further noted that Trump himself understood why it was important to stop Iran from developing its nuclear program. Netanyahu added, “I didn't explain it to him, and I think that our partnership is the only way to avoid this catastrophic development.”

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

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