KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa, Japan (10 August 2025) — Kadena Air Base has launched a fleet-wide inspection of its F-15E Strike Eagles following an emergency landing by one of the fighters that returned from deployment missing a wheel. The incident, which occurred Monday, prompted immediate safety reviews and praise for the aircrew’s handling of the high-risk situation.
The aircraft, assigned to the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was returning from Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia when the crew discovered mid-flight that a wheel had detached. Despite the mechanical failure, the F-15E landed safely at Kadena with no injuries reported. The missing wheel was later recovered on the flight line at Diego Garcia.
Brig. Gen. John Gallemore, commander of the 18th Wing, commended the crew and support teams: “The way the aircrew handled the landing is a testament to their training and professionalism. This event fortifies my confidence in Team Kadena’s ability to react to complex problems on a moment’s notice.”
Kadena officials confirmed that the base’s runway remains fully operational and that the Strike Eagles will resume flight operations immediately following their inspections. The safety investigation is ongoing.
The F-15Es currently stationed at Kadena hail from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. They were deployed to Okinawa in 2023 to maintain operational readiness as the Air Force phased out Kadena’s aging fleet of F-15C and F-15D Eagles.
The incident underscores the importance of rigorous maintenance protocols and rapid response capabilities, especially as Kadena continues to serve as a strategic hub for U.S. air operations in the Indo-Pacific.