The F-35 jet notched its first major mishap last month when a F-35C sucked in parts of a refueling basket during a mid-air refueling operation. The next-generation fighter is shown here being refueled by a Super Hornet earlier this summer. (U.S. Navy photo)
Defense News: Navy F-35C suffers first major airborne mishap
The Navy’s next-generation F-35 fighter jet reached an unwanted milestone last month when a carrier-based Lightning II suffered a major airborne mishap.
It took place on Aug. 22, when an F-35C from the “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron 125 was being refueled in-flight by a F/A-18F Super Hornet operating from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, according to Cmdr. Ron Flanders, a spokesman for Naval Air Forces.
“During the refueling, part of the refueling basket broke off, and that debris was ingested into the engine of the F-35," he said.
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Update #1: Severe F-35C Aerial Refueling Mishap to Cost Millions (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: The F-35 has only one engine. This could have ended badly if the engine was seriously damaged/destroyed by this debris.