CNN Admitted That This Is The First Time The Iranians Have Managed To Shoot Down A U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet

• 19.03.2026, 20:35

What is known.

A U.S. F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at an airbase in the Middle East after it was hit, presumably by Iranian air defense forces, CNN reported, citing two sources.

The information has not been officially confirmed. A spokesman for U.S. Central Command said the stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while "flying a combat mission over Iran."

The plane landed safely and the pilot's condition is stable. The incident is now under investigation.

If the Iranian fire is confirmed, the incident would be the first time in a military conflict that Iran has successfully struck a U.S. aircraft, CNN specified. Both the U.S. and Israel are using F-35 fighter jets in the operation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to CNN, said on March 19 that the United States is "winning a decisive victory" and that Iran's air defenses are "broken."