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| Date: | Monday 20 January 2025 |
| Time: | 13:26 UTC |
| Type: |  Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II |
| Owner/operator: | 617 Squadron, RAF |
| Registration: | |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | North Wales -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Kings Lynn-Marham RAF Station (KNF/EGYM) |
| Kings Lynn-Marham RAF Station (KNF/EGYM) |
An RAF fighter jet was forced to return to its Norfolk base on Monday after sustaining minor damage in a bird strike over north Wales. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II was flying over the region when it collided with a bird. The pilot made the decision to return to RAF Marham, near King’s Lynn, at approximately 1:26pm.
A spokesman for the RAF described the damage as “negligible” but said the jet’s return was a precautionary measure. The pilot was uninjured in the incident, and the aircraft landed safely. According to some reports the F-35B either lost or jettisoned its canopy.
The F-35B Lightning II is a cutting-edge fighter jet capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings. It is part of the UK’s fleet of advanced military aircraft based at RAF Marham. The BBC first reported the incident, noting that the bird strike caused damage to the front of the jet.
Sources:
1. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983556jzkyo
2. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24871026.damaged-fighter-jet-returns-raf-marham-norfolk/
3. https://www.deeside.com/raf-fighter-jet-suffers-minor-damage-in-bird-strike-over-north-wales/
4. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/raf-fighter-jet-damaged-after-30826844
5. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/caernarfon-herald/20250122/281548001559089
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Marham#F-35B_Lightning_(2018%E2%80%93)
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Jan-2025 08:10 | gerard57 | Added |
| 21-Jan-2025 08:11 | gerard57 | Updated [Date, ] |
| 21-Jan-2025 08:50 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, ] |
| 21-Jan-2025 08:50 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Source, ] |
| 21-Jan-2025 08:50 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 21-Jan-2025 08:52 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Narrative, ] |
| 02-Jul-2025 13:52 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ] |
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