U.S. F-35 Pilot in ‘Stable Condition’ After Suspected Iran Strike

If confirmed, it would be the first successful Iranian attack on an American military fighter since conflict escalated in late February.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

If confirmed, the reported Iranian strike on an American F-35 fighter would be the first successful strike by an adversary on U.S. aircraft since conflict in the Middle East escalated last month. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a Middle Eastern airbase after being hit by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran; the pilot is in stable condition.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took credit for the attack, which if confirmed, would be their first successful strike on a U.S. or Israeli aircraft since the conflict escalated.
The incident challenges recent claims of Western air superiority in Iran, highlighting the potential threat from Iran's mobile and clandestine air defense systems, possibly utilizing passive infrared technology.

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The pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-35 is in “stable condition” after the fighter jet made an “emergency landing” at an American airbase in the Middle East due to suspected Iranian fire, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins told FLYING.

Two sources told CNN, which first reported the incident Thursday, that Iran was responsible for the strike, which occurred as the F-35 was “flying a combat mission over Iran,” Hawkins said. He said the aircraft landed safely and that CENTCOM is investigating.