Japan’s F-15J Loses Landing Gear at Naha Airport, Closes Runway 4 Hours

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J fighter jet collapsed its left main landing gear while touching down at Naha Airport in Okinawa on August 18, forcing the closure of one runway for over four hours. The aircraft skidded across the pavement, spun 180 degrees, and came to rest with its left wing scraping the ground. The pilot evacuated safely. The incident disrupted 128 commercial flights and reignited concerns about military operations at Japan’s primary civilian aviation hub.

How the incident unfolded

The F-15J was returning from a scramble intercept mission, a rapid-response flight to counter airspace threats, when its left main landing gear failed during landing on Runway B. The aircraft tilted left, with its wingtip and auxiliary fuel tank touching the runway surface. It continued sliding across the pavement, rotated roughly 180 degrees, and came to a complete stop. The pilot safely evacuated without injury. Airport crews used a crane to lift the disabled fighter off the pavement.

Impact on civilian air traffic

Naha Airport’s second runway remained closed for approximately four hours while recovery operations proceeded. The disruption forced roughly 40 commercial flights onto the airport’s single remaining runway, with some arrivals delayed by over one hour. A total of 128 flights experienced delays or cancellations. Naha Airport serves as the transportation hub connecting Okinawa’s remote islands to the mainland and overseas destinations, plus handles deep-night cargo operations for international logistics.

Military and civilian operations at Naha

Naha Airport operates as a shared civilian-military facility, with both Japan Air Self-Defense Force jets and passenger airliners using the same runways. The base is home to two squadrons of F-15J fighter jets, a support squadron using T-4 training aircraft, and a squadron of E-2C early warning aircraft. The F-15J has served as the mainstay of the JASDF fighter force for over 40 years. The JASDF received a total of 223 F-15J aircraft, including 203 single-seat and 20 two-seat models. According to Kyodo News, the aircraft that failed was equipped with missiles for air defense interception missions.

Governor demands investigation and broader concerns

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki called the incident “deeply disappointing” and demanded a swift investigation into the cause of the landing gear failure. The accident has intensified debate over military use of Naha Airport. Local observers worry that expanded U.S. military access to the airport, discussed as part of the Futenma Air Base return agreement, could further blur the line between civilian and military operations. The U.S. military has stated it will not return Futenma unless Japan guarantees emergency access to a long-runway civilian facility, with Naha Airport cited as a possible location. The terms of such use remain undisclosed by the Japanese government.

Final Thoughts

The F-15J landing gear collapse exposes the operational risks of mixing military and civilian traffic at Naha Airport. With military operations expanding and U.S. emergency access demands unresolved, the incident underscores growing tensions between Japan’s defense posture and its role as a regional aviation hub.

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