F-35A Lightning II Fifth-Generation Fighter to Face $76M Repair After Eagle Collision

The Republic of Korea Air Force may lose one fifth-generation fighter, the F-35A Lightning II.

The plane collided with a bird during one of its flights, and now it faces expensive repairs.

What is known

The incident occurred more than a year ago.An F-35A fighter jet was heavily damaged after an eagle crashed into it. The bird strike occurred at an altitude of approximately 330 meters. The eagle hit the left vacuum pump, causing damage to the hydraulic pipe and chassis electronics.

As a result of the incident, the pilot returned to the airfieldand was forced to make a belly landing, which required skillful maneuvering in order not to destroy the aircraft. Before that, he emptied the fuel tank in the air. As a result of the incident, no one was injured, except for the bird and the fighter.

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Lockheed Martin has evaluated andfound that the repair of the F-35A would cost $76 million. At the same time, the aircraft itself costs approximately $100 million. The Republic of Korea will have to pay for the repairs, since the accident was not the fault of Lockheed Martin. In this regard, the military is considering the possibility of decommissioning the damaged aircraft.