Naha, Japan: A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15J fighter jet suffered a landing-gear malfunction while landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa on August 18, forcing the closure of the airport’s second runway for about four hours and delaying dozens of civilian flights. The pilot escaped without injury.
The aircraft was identified as a Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle, registration 22-8809. The single-seat fighter was operating from JASDF Naha Air Base and was returning from a scramble mission conducted as part of Japan’s response to a possible airspace intrusion.
The incident occurred at around 12:55 p.m. local time as the F-15J landed on Runway 36L, also known as Naha Airport’s B Runway. According to Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) officials, the aircraft developed a problem involving its landing gear during the landing sequence. The jet subsequently became tilted and stopped on the runway. The precise mechanical cause remains under investigation.
Images and video from the scene showed the aircraft resting at an angle, with its left side lowered toward the runway. The occurrence was a possible failure of the left main landing gear. Other reports said the fighter slid along the runway after the gear collapsed, with the aircraft rotating roughly 180 degrees before coming to rest facing in the opposite direction.
A JASDF spokesman told Stars and Stripes that the landing gear apparently failed as the aircraft touched down shortly before 1 p.m. and that the fighter’s left wing contacted the runway before it came to a stop. The spokesman said the pilot was not injured and that the extent of damage to the aircraft was still being assessed.
The aircraft was eventually removed from the runway using recovery equipment, including a crane. Naha Airport officials said the runway remained closed for approximately four hours while the fighter was removed, the area was cleaned and safety inspections were completed. Runway operations subsequently resumed.
The closure had a significant effect on civilian operations because Naha Airport is a dual-use facility, serving both commercial aviation and the JASDF. With the B Runway unavailable, civilian aircraft were required to use the other runway. Airport officials said 40 commercial flights were delayed, with some delays exceeding 30 minutes.
The incident also drew a response from Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki, who described the situation as deeply regrettable and called for the cause of the incident to be investigated. The governor’s office has sought information on the circumstances surrounding the fighter’s landing and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The F-15J’s condition and the precise reason for the landing-gear failure remain subject to investigation. At this stage, available official data does not establish whether the malfunction resulted from a particular component failure, maintenance issue or other technical factor.
