1 hr ago
Missed Email Blamed for F-35 Parts Reaching Hong Kong
Parts from an F-35 fighter jet were being sent from Australia to the United States for repairs.
The shipment unexpectedly went to Hong Kong instead.
The Pentagon confirmed that some parts had gone missing before they were found there.
A report says a delivery worker may have missed an email warning not to send them through certain countries.
The parts reportedly included a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door with special radar-reducing material.
Experts worry that studying real parts could teach another country more about the aircraft.
The articles say China has tried to obtain information about the F-35.
They do not say that China obtained or examined the parts.
F-35 components being shipped from Australia to the United States for repairs were diverted to Hong Kong.
The Pentagon confirmed that some components went missing before they turned up in Hong Kong.
A Bloomberg report said a UPS employee allegedly missed an email warning against routing the shipment through certain countries.
The shipment reportedly included a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door coated in radar-absorbing material.
Officials and analysts have raised concern that access to the components could help China study F-35 technology.
- Who
- The shipment involved F-35 components, Lockheed Martin, freight forwarder DSV A/S, and United Parcel Service (UPS).
- What
- F-35 parts being sent for repairs were diverted to Hong Kong after a warning email was reportedly missed.
- Where
- The shipment was traveling from Australia to the United States and was diverted to Hong Kong.
- When
- The diversion reportedly happened during the summer; the account says news broke in September 2026.
- Why
- According to the report, a missed email and a rerouting intended to speed delivery may have led the shipment through Hong Kong.
Key facts
- Aircraft
- F-35
- Shipment origin
- Australia
- Intended destination
- United States, for repairs
- Unexpected destination
- Hong Kong
- Reported components
- A cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door coated in radar-absorbing material
- Reported cause
- A UPS employee allegedly missed an email warning against routing the shipment through certain countries
- Regulations cited
- U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
Quotes
J.J. Gertler
Former House Armed Services Committee staff member and military aviation analyst at the Congressional Research Service
“It’s no secret that China has been aggressively trying to get F-35 data through electronic espionage, among other means.”
wionews.com
Sources
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