America’s $100 million F-35 fighter jet is hit by Iranian fire and forced into heart-stopping emergency landing –This marks the first time an American F-35 has been successfully struck by enemy fire in combat | 19 March 2026 | Iran’s military claimed a symbolic victory on Thursday as it aired footage purporting to show a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter being struck by anti-aircraft artillery. A black and white video shows what appears to be a U.S. jet being hit by a missile before the footage abruptly ends. It would mark the first time an American F-35 has been successfully struck by enemy fire in combat. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing after sources said it was shot by Iran. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Captain Tim Hawkins said.