Had Been Grounded Following An Engine Fire On An Air Force Lightning II Earlier In The Week

The U.S. Marine Corps has resumed flight operations with its F-35B aircraft after some of the airplanes were grounded following a fire aboard an Air Force F-35A earlier in the week.

The issue with the Air Force jet occurred Thursday. Reuters reports that a fire broke out on an F-35A that was preparing for takeoff, and the Air Force suspended all operations of that variant of the airplane. Some Navy and Marine Corps airplanes were also grounded, but it was determined later that the issue was specific to the "A" model of the aircraft. Some engine fragments were reportedly found on the runway at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida following the incident.

The "B" and "C" variants have a different engine, according to the report, and were cleared to fly.

The Marine Corps plans to deploy four F-35B aircraft to the U.K. The airplanes had arrived in Maryland on Friday from Yuma, AZ to be prepped for the Atlantic crossing. Those airplanes will now continue on to the U.K. as scheduled, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.marines.mil