WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday at a U.S. military base in the Middle East after it was struck by what was believed to be Iranian fire, according to a CNN report citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The incident would be the first time Iran has hit a U.S. warplane since the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Feb. 28, said the report.
The jet was "flying a combat mission over Iran" when it made the emergency landing, Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, was quoted as saying.
"The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition," Hawkins said. "This incident is under investigation." ■