'Eagle Collision' F-35 Fighter Jet Ultimately Disassembled... Transported to Home Base

Three Years After Emergency Landing at Seosan Airfield in 2022
Disassembled for Transport Due to Lack of Suitable Airlift Helicopter
To Be Used for Pilot and Maintenance Training at Cheongju Base

The F-35A fighter jet worth 110 billion won that made an emergency landing after colliding with an eagle has been disassembled three years later. Since air transport is practically impossible, it is scheduled to be transported by land to its home base, Cheongju Airfield, as early as this week in its disassembled state.

According to a government official on the 17th, the 5th generation cutting-edge stealth fighter F-35A will begin transportation work as early as this week after two weeks of disassembly work. The official explained, "Various options were considered regarding the transportation issue, but ultimately a contract worth 20 million won was signed with a civilian transportation company."

The damaged F-35A made an emergency landing at Seosan Airfield in January 2022 after colliding with an eagle. Over 300 parts, including the engine, were damaged, with repair time estimated at four years and costs at 140 billion won. Considering the new purchase cost is 110 billion won, the repair cost is even higher than the original price. Eventually, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Ministry of National Defense decided to scrap it in April and May last year, just two years after operation.

The disassembly before transportation was necessary because there was no suitable way to move it to its home base, Cheongju Airfield. To transport by air, the military would have to use the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, but it cannot handle the weight of the F-35 fighter. The Chinook’s payload capacity is around 1 ton, while the F-35A weighs 13.5 tons. Therefore, to move it by air, the only option would be to use the CH-53K King Stallion heavy transport helicopter deployed with the US Forces Korea.

The CH-53K is the latest large helicopter, an upgraded version of the CH-53E Super Stallion operated by the US military. It can transport cargo up to 16.3 tons. However, the US side refused to allow the use of the US Forces Korea helicopter.

Transporting by land is also challenging. The F-35A measures 15.7 m in length, 4.38 m in height, and 10.7 m in wingspan. The distance from Cheongju to Seosan is about 100 km, and transporting it by land would require controlling all lanes of a two-lane road. There are also many obstacles such as roadside trees. Ultimately, disassembly is necessary.

A government official said, "Once the F-35A is moved to its home base at Cheongju Airfield, it is planned to be used as equipment for pilot training and maintenance technician training."