The nose landing gear of a USMC F-35B collapsed during towing after the fighter conducted an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa Island, Japan
The fighter belongs to the 121st Marine Fighter Attack Squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The squadron was recently deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli.
After reporting suspected electrical problems, the F-35B conducted an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base, NHK News reported.
While the aircraft was being towed on a taxiway, the front landing gear collapsed, and the nose hit the ground. Damage to the aircraft is unknown. No injuries were reported.
‼️Video of today’s incident with the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter of the 121st squadron of the USMC at the Kadena Air Force Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
— AZ (@AZgeopolitics) December 1, 2022
When towing, the front landing gear dropped pic.twitter.com/0i06pXVPRI
Kadena Air Base has housed two squadrons of USAF F-15 fighters since 1979. On October 28, 2022, the 18th Wing of the USAF announced that the aircraft would be progressively phased out over two years and temporarily replaced by a rotation of a dozen F-22 Raptor fighters.