A US F-35 stealth fighter has been damaged during a combat mission over Iran, forcing an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East, according to American officials. The pilot survived and is in stable condition, but the incident is now under investigation.The development comes as Iran claimed it had successfully struck the aircraft using its air defence systems, potentially marking the first time Tehran has hit one of the United States’ most advanced jets during the ongoing conflict. The claim has not been fully confirmed by Washington, but US officials have acknowledged the aircraft was hit by what is believed to be Iranian fire.

Capt Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to land. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” he said, adding that the matter is being investigated.

Why this is a big deal: the F-35 factor

The F-35 Lightning II is not just another fighter jet it is widely regarded as the backbone of US and allied air power and one of the most advanced combat aircraft ever built.Costing upwards of $100 million per unit and operated or ordered by more than 19 countries, the F-35 is the world’s most widely deployed fifth-generation fighter. It combines stealth, advanced sensors and networked warfare capabilities in a way that fundamentally reshapes how air combat is fought.At its core is stealth. The aircraft is designed to evade radar detection through its shape, materials and internal weapons bays, allowing it to operate deep inside heavily defended airspace. In theory, this makes it extremely difficult for enemy air defences to track or target.

Equally important is sensor fusion. The F-35 does not simply gather data it processes and merges inputs from radar, infrared sensors, satellites and other aircraft into a single real-time battlefield picture. This allows pilots to detect threats earlier and engage targets before being seen.The jet is also built for network-centric warfare. It operates as part of a wider digital combat system, sharing data with other aircraft, ships and ground systems. In such a setup, the F-35 is not just a fighter but a node in a larger warfighting network.This combination — stealth, sensor fusion and networking is what defines a fifth-generation fighter. Only a handful of nations possess such aircraft at scale, with the US leading through the F-35 programme.

That is why even a partial hit is significant. If Iranian air defences were able to track and strike an F-35, it could suggest improvements in detection systems or exploitation of gaps in US operations. It also challenges the perception that stealth aircraft can operate with near impunity.At least 16 US aircraft have been lost since the war began, including multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones shot down by Iranian defences, as per a report by Bloomberg. These drones are designed to be expendable and are frequently used in high-risk missions.Other losses have stemmed from accidents and friendly fire. Three F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences, with all crew members ejecting safely. In another incident, a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six personnel on board. The US military said the crash was not caused by hostile action.Despite these setbacks, US officials maintain that operations are proceeding as planned. However, analysts point out that the US has only achieved “localised air superiority” in parts of Iranian airspace, rather than full dominance.Iran, meanwhile, continues to launch regional strikes, including attacks on energy infrastructure, while claiming to have downed large numbers of US and Israeli drones. It says the F-35 strike reflects upgrades to its integrated air defence network.

How Iran’s infrared systems may have struck the ‘ghost of the skies’

Iran’s claim that it struck a US F-35 Lightning II has drawn sharp global attention, with early indications suggesting that infrared-guided air defence systems may have played a role in the incident now under investigation.A US F-35 stealth fighter was damaged during a combat mission over Iran and forced to make an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East, according to American officials. The pilot survived and is in stable condition. While Washington has not fully confirmed Tehran’s claim, it has acknowledged the aircraft was hit by what is believed to be Iranian fire.Iran has described the incident as a “world’s first hit”, raising questions about how one of the most advanced stealth aircraft may have been tracked and targeted.

Infrared systems in focus

Analysts are increasingly looking at Iran’s infrared-guided surface-to-air systems, which rely on heat signatures rather than radar, as a possible factor.Among the key systems:

Unlike traditional radar-guided systems, these platforms operate passively, meaning they do not broadcast signals that stealth aircraft are designed to evade. This raises the possibility that infrared detection may have complemented or substituted radar tracking in the engagement.

The F-35 is built to minimise both radar and infrared signatures, but it is not completely invisible. Its engine still produces heat, particularly during high-speed or combat manoeuvres.Infrared-guided systems, in theory, can exploit this by:

However, such a hit would still be considered highly challenging. The F-35 is equipped with advanced countermeasures, including flares and electronic warfare systems, and is designed to detect threats early through its sensor fusion capabilities.

What makes this incident significant

Capt Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to land. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” he said.Even a partial strike carries weight. The F-35 is widely seen as one of the most survivable aircraft in contested airspace due to its stealth, sensor fusion and network-centric warfare design.If Iranian systems were able to track and hit the jet, it could point to:

The bigger picture

The reported hit comes amid an ongoing conflict in which the US has lost at least 16 aircraft, including multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to a Bloomberg report. Other losses have been attributed to accidents and friendly fire.While US officials maintain that operations are proceeding as planned, analysts note that only “localised air superiority” has been achieved in parts of Iranian airspace.Against this backdrop, Iran’s claim of striking an F-35 — whether through infrared systems alone or in combination with other tracking methods — could mark a shift in how stealth aircraft are challenged in modern warfare.

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just days away, but the pre-season buzz has been dampened by a massive wave of injuries and availability issues. Set to kick off on March 28, 2026, the tournament is already witnessing a shuffle of squads as several franchises scramble to find replacements for their frontline stars. From high-profile Australian pacers to rising Indian talents, the medical rooms are filling up faster than the stadiums.

Players ruled out ahead of IPL 2026

For these players, the dream of lifting the IPL 2026 trophy has ended before the first ball is bowled.

• Harshit Rana (KKR): One of the most significant Indian casualties. After undergoing knee surgery in February following a ligament strain during a T20 World Cup warm-up, Rana was recently seen on crutches. KKR has already looked toward trials to fill his domestic pacer slot.
• Nathan Ellis (CSK): A massive blow for the Super Kings’ death-bowling plans. Ellis re-aggravated a hamstring injury during the One-Day Cup final in Hobart last week and has been officially ruled out.
• Sam Curran (RR): The England all-rounder, acquired in a major trade from CSK, is facing an indefinite recovery period for a groin injury. His absence leaves the Royals thin on overseas all-round options.
• Jack Edwards (SRH): The Australian all-rounder was set for his IPL debut after being bought for ₹3 crore, but a foot injury has forced him out of the entire campaign.
• Atharva Ankolekar (MI): The young Mumbai Indians all-rounder is out for the season following a meniscus tear suffered during the Ranji Trophy.

Note: Mustafizur Rahman will also be unavailable for KKR due to administrative and diplomatic reasons between the BCCI and BCB, prompting the franchise to sign Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement.

The late arrivals in the upcoming season

Quite a few players will play for their respective franchises but not from the first game. Cricket Australia’s precautionary workload management means some of the league’s most expensive stars will miss the opening phase.

• Pat Cummins (SRH): The SRH captain is still recovering from a lumbar stress injury in his lower back. In his absence, Ishan Kishan has been named the stand-in captain for the initial games.
• Josh Hazlewood (RCB): Recovering from a mix of hamstring and Achilles issues, Hazlewood is expected to miss at least the first two matches for the defending champions.
• Mitchell Starc (DC): Starc is being held back by CA for the early part of the tournament to manage his workload for a heavy international schedule ahead.

Also READ: SWOT analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR’s report card ahead of the IPL 2026

Doubtful stars under the scanner

A few key names are currently in a race against time to prove their fitness for the first week.

Player	Team	Status/Injury
Matheesha Pathirana	KKR	Dealing with a left leg calf strain; doubtful for openers.
Wanindu Hasaranga	LSG	Undergoing rehab for a hamstring tear.
Mayank Yadav	LSG	Monitoring a side strain; participation uncertain.
Lockie Ferguson	PBKS	Missing early games due to paternity leave.

Also READ: Former batter picks the ideal top-order of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claimed victory over US and Israel in a written message for the Persian New Year, Nowruz on Friday. “At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots — despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins — the enemy has been defeated,” he said.He further said that US and Israeli attacks were based on an illusion that by killing top leaders they could cause the overthrow of the government, AP reported.He claimed that attacks in Turkey and Oman are part of a “scheme by the Zionist enemy” to create divisions among regional nations.“We share with neighboring countries the creed, the interests, and the confrontation against the forces of global arrogance,” Khamenei said.He commended Iranians for “building a nationwide defensive front and strongholds across cities, neighbourhoods, and mosques, delivering such a bewildering blow that the enemy fell into contradictions and irrational statements.”Mojtaba is yet to appear in public after being named to succeed his father Ali Khamenei who was killed in a US, Israeli airstrike at the a start of the war.Earlier in the day, Iran released a video of Khamenei, teaching religious studies to a group of students.More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have left over 1,000 dead and displaced more than a million people, according to official estimates. In Israel, at least 15 people have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, while the United States has reported the deaths of at least 13 of its military personnel in the ongoing hostilities.

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Mumbai: An eight-year-old boy died after falling into a pit filled with water at an unbarricaded construction site in Malad East on Thursday night. He had gone to the site across the road from his home to retrieve a ball he was playing with after dinner. The body was discovered by his father, who had been desperately looking for him, around seven hours later. Locals said the pit was around 15ft deep.Kurar police lodged an FIR against the site engineer and the contractor for negligence under provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The site is being developed by Mauli Construction. The child, Divyansh Rajesh Mourya, a Class 3 student of a civic-run school, lived with his parents and younger sister in a slum in Malad’s Ambewadi. He stepped out after dinner around 8pm to play nearby, said his uncle, Ram Ishwar Mourya. “When he failed to return, everyone started panicking and went out looking for him. No one could trace him. However, his father didn’t give up and kept looking for him. Around 3am, his father decided to check the construction site and saw the open pit, in which the boy was floating.” A neighbour, Aaditya Nishad, said Divyansh was rushed to a private hospital in the vicinity, where doctors declared him dead. His desperate family then took him to civic-run Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli. The neighbour said when locals gathered at the construction site, they found that the pit was around 15ft deep. “The boy would have surely drowned after falling into such a deep pit. There were CCTV cameras at the construction site and police have already collected the footage. The footage will clearly establish that it was due to the lack of safety measures at the site that the boy fell into the pit and died.” A police officer said CCTV cameras installed at the site captured Divyansh entering the compound, adding that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible. “The pit is filled with drainage water flowing in from an SRA project upstream.” When TOI visited the spot, the child’s final rites were yet to be carried out as his body had been sent for a postmortem examination. Locals called for stringent action against the developer for not taking adequate safety measures at the site by barricading it. Former Malad corporator Vinod Mishra from BJP demanded that civic authorities who have to keep tabs on whether developers are taking adequate precautions at their sites must also be held accountable. Divyansh’s father runs a grocery shop opposite Kurar Metro station and his mother is a homemaker. (With inputs by Nitasha Natu)

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have started preparations for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While some top Indian stars, led by Virat Kohli, have been in attendance, bowler Yash Dayal remains a notable absentee. He wasn’t spotted with the group on their first day of the camp on March 18 and continues to be missing from action.

Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Suyash Sharma, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are prominent names preparing for the title defence under the coaching staff led by Andy Flower, but Dayal’s mysterious absence has already raised eyebrows.There are pictures of RCB’s team bus circulating on social media, and Dayal is not visible in those, either. Additionally, the multiple social media posts by the franchise do not mention the bowler.In a video uploaded by his wife, Shweta Pundir, on Instagram, Dayal can be seen receiving throwdowns from a side-arm specialist, but he seemed far away from the action in Bengaluru.

Instagram story

TimesofIndia.com reached out to multiple RCB officials for an update on Dayal, but they are yet to respond. The franchise retained the cricketer for Rs 5 crore ahead of last year’s mini-auction in Jeddah and received significant backlash because of the legal case against the cricketer at that time.Dayal’s last competitive appearance was in June 2025 when he played for RCB in the IPL final against the Punjab Kings. Since then, the bowler has been sidelined from competitive cricket. Uttar Pradesh did not consider him for the entire domestic season. It has been learnt that the BCCI Centre of Excellence contacted the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) last September to check on the bowler, but the officials could not establish contact with him. “The case was going on against him, so he wasn’t considered for selection. I remember there was a call from CoE checking on him in September, but we weren’t able to establish any contact with Yash Dayal. He has even changed his number. Even his childhood coach doesn’t know his whereabouts,” a UPCA official tells TimesofIndia.com. It remains to be seen whether or not he will feature for the RCB in this year’s IPL.