F-35 Lightning II Fighter Aircraft Grounded Globally After Catastrophic Engine Failure Sparks Safety Crisis
The F-35 Lightning II, a premier fifth-generation fighter aircraft operated by the United States and allied nations, has been ordered grounded worldwide following a catastrophic engine failure during a routine training mission. This occurred at approximately 09:45 hours local time yesterday at Edwards Air Force Base in California, when a U.S. Air Force F-35A suffered an uncontained engine explosion shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to eject safely. The incident has prompted an urgent safety review by the Joint Program Office, affecting over 750 fighter aircraft across nine countries, including the U.S., United Kingdom, Israel, and Japan. Investigation crews are now analyzing debris to determine if a manufacturing defect or software error in the Pratt & Whitney F135 power plant caused the failure. The grounding is expected to disrupt combat readiness and allied defense operations for an indefinite period.