Lack of Full-Rate Production Readiness
¶ 7. Accident Record
Note on cost basis: All USD amounts from US government sources (GAO, CBO, DoD) in this article are expressed in Base Year 2012 Dollars (BY2012$). Adjusted for inflation to 2026, actual values are approximately 40–50% higher.
¶ Overview
As of July 2025, at least 13 total losses have been documented, with one fatality (Japan 2019) [39][40]. The Class A mishap rate stands at 1.6 accidents per 100,000 flight hours -- statistically lower than the F-16 (3.55), F-15 (2.31) or F-22 (5.49) [41].
¶ Selected Incidents
| Date | Location | Variant | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2018 | South Carolina | F-35B | Defective fuel line |
| Apr 2019 | Japan | F-35A | Spatial disorientation, pilot killed |
| Nov 2021 | Mediterranean | F-35B | Engine cover left in air intake |
| Dec 2022 | Texas | F-35B | Rare system phenomenon during vertical landing |
| Sep 2023 | South Carolina | F-35B | Pilot error following malfunctions, jet flew 11 min. unmanned |
| Jan 2025 | Alaska | F-35A | Hydraulic freezing at -18 degrees Celsius |
| Jul 2025 | California | F-35C | Cause still under investigation |
Sources: [32][39][40][42][43][44]
¶ Swiss Scenario
With 30 F-35As and an estimated annual flight performance of 6,000-8,000 hours, a total loss is statistically expected every 12.5-16.7 years. Over 30 years of operation, this means 2-3 total losses with estimated costs of USD 400-600 million. Each loss reduces the fleet by 3.3%.
Translated from the German version. See the German version for complete references.