F-35 fighter stranded in Azores will reach Finland this autumn

Yle reports that the F-35 fighter stranded in Portugal’s Azores will arrive in Finland during the autumn. The aircraft will be flown to Finland with the next group of fighters.

One of the F-35s travelling to Finland on Friday remained in the Azores after its fault warning system indicated a possible malfunction. The Finnish Air Force said the problem involved the aircraft’s avionics, or electronic systems.

The required spare part is being sent to the Azores. Air Force Chief of Staff Aki Puustinen said it would not be practical to transfer the aircraft to Finland separately, because the flight across the Atlantic would require aerial refuelling support.