A British F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in Kirishima City, southwestern Japan, on Sunday following a suspected mechanical problem, according to Japanese media and officials.

The aircraft, which was operating from HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) deployment in the Western Pacific, diverted to Kagoshima after the pilot reported the issue to air traffic control during a sortie, reported UK Defence Journal.

“The fighter pilot had contacted air traffic control in advance, stating that he was experiencing a possible mechanical problem and wishing to make an emergency landing,” the Kagoshima Airport Office told Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK).

The jet landed shortly after 11.30 am local time, with no injuries reported. The runway was closed for approximately 20 minutes while the aircraft was moved to a taxiway and safety checks were carried out, delaying six departing and arriving commercial flights by about 20 minutes, reported Kyodo News. Airport operations have since returned to normal.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the fighter belonged to the UK and had been dispatched from Prince of Wales, which is currently conducting joint training exercises with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US military under Operation Highmast.

These drills, which began on August 4, are scheduled to continue until August 12. British defense officials said the aircraft is undergoing inspection and will rejoin the Carrier Strike Group once cleared.

The British stealth fighter had previously made headlines in Kerala. On 14 June, the jet was forced to land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after running out of fuel during a military exercise in the Arabian Sea.

The aircraft, which had taken off from the UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was compelled to divert just hours into its flight.

It remained grounded at the airport for 37 days while undergoing repairs. Expert inspections later revealed faults in both the hydraulic and starting systems, extending its stay despite initial repair efforts aimed at an earlier departure.