A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 became stranded after landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa on 18 August, tilting on the runway with its left wing in contact with the pavement. The pilot escaped safely and no injuries were reported, while the airport’s second runway was closed for about four hours and civilian schedules were disrupted.
The fighter was removed by vehicle in the late afternoon and the runway reopened after safety checks. Early reporting pointed to a suspected landing-gear or wheel-area malfunction, but the exact cause has not been confirmed. One report indicated 12 departures and 28 arrivals were delayed, while another put the total at about 40 flights with delays of up to 35 minutes.
The incident briefly reduced capacity at the airport, which shares runways with Naha Air Base, where military activity can quickly affect commercial operations. Some reporting linked the aircraft to an emergency scramble mission before its return, although that detail remains secondary and unconfirmed.