OKINAWA, JAPAN – A United States Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor stealth fighter encountered a landing gear failure on April 11, 2024, at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The Okinawa Defense Bureau confirmed the mishap, stating that the jet experienced an issue with its landing gear during a towing process.
Images circulating online show the F-22 Raptor resting on its nose, with its nose gear collapsed. According to witness reports, the incident transpired around 10:30 AM local time. Emergency response vehicles were dispatched but no fire was reported.
While the exact cause of the malfunction is under investigation, initial reports suggest that the nose gear collapsed while the aircraft was being towed after its engines were shut down. Thankfully, there are no reports of injuries.
The damaged F-22 likely belongs to one of the two squadrons recently deployed to Okinawa as part of a rotational presence. The squadrons arrived at Kadena Air Base in late March 2024, replacing retired F-15 Eagles. The extent of the damage to the F-22 and the duration of the repairs remain unknown.
This incident has drawn attention amidst ongoing discussions about basing US fighter aircraft in the region. Some Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns that the decision to rotate fighters through the Indo-Pacific could negatively impact military readiness.
