Initial assessments indicated the bird strike caused the F-35B more than $2 million in damages, making it a Class A mishap.
On May 7 a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing operating out of Iwakuni, Japan had a bird strike.
The F-35B was forced to abort the take-off, according to Major Eric Flanagan, a spokesman for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
The aircraft “safely taxied off the runway,” but initial assessments indicated the high-tech stealth fighter suffered more than $2 million in damages, making it a Class A mishap, Flanagan told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement.
The incident is currently under investigation and a complete damage assessment is underway.
The F-35B bird strike is USMC second Class A mishap in less than one week.
On May 3 a Marine F/A-18 out of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, made an emergency landing due to an engine bay fire.
No one was injured in the F/A-18 incident.
The Navy classifies a Class A mishap as an accident resulting in $2 million or more in damages or an incident that results in death or total disability.
Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps
