US fighter jet makes emergency landing in Japan due to engine failure

A US F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet had to abort its mission and land at a base in Japan because the pilot feared an incident.

The F-18 made an emergency landing after an engine failure warning. Photo: Japan Times.

Japanese officials said on June 8 that a US Marine Corps (USMC) F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet had to make an emergency landing at Matsushima Airport in northeastern Japan. The cause is believed to be an engine failure in the cockpit, forcing the pilot to land as a precaution, Sputnik reported.

"After receiving a cockpit alert, the pilot followed operating procedures and landed safely at the airport," said USMC spokeswoman Karoline Foote. The Hornet was part of a three-fighter flight that was en route from Alaska to the USMC base in Iwakuni, Japan. No one was injured in the incident, and the other two aircraft arrived safely at Iwakuni.

The aircraft will remain at Matsushima for inspection and possible troubleshooting, before continuing its 840-kilometer journey to Iwakuni. On June 6, a USMC MV-22 Osprey helicopter made an emergency landing in northeastern Japan due to a similar problem.

According to VNE