How a UPS worker's missed email resulted in China getting F-35 stealth fighter jet parts from the US

A United Parcel Service employee neglected a crucial email warning, resulting in China acquiring components from an F-35 stealth fighter jet. The oversight occurred when freight forwarder DSV sent the email, instructing against routing the shipment through Hong Kong due to US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions.

These regulations aim to prevent sensitive US weapons technologies from reaching adversaries. The shipment, which included an F-35 cockpit canopy and a radar-absorbing materials-coated weapons-bay door, was intended for San Francisco via South Korea and Taiwan. However, the carrier mistakenly opted to send it via Hong Kong, hoping to expedite delivery.

The email with the ITAR designation, required by US regulations, was potentially routed through a different system than the one the UPS agent utilized. Pentagon officials disclosed the incident on September 29 during a meeting with House foreign affairs and armed services committees. Subsequently, the Pentagon and State Department launched investigations, and lawmakers urged a review of the global supply chain of US armaments to prevent such occurrences in the future.

China has been pursuing the F-35 for espionage purposes due to its status as the world's most advanced warplane and the most expensive US weapons program. The stolen parts, which had radar-absorbing material, were set for potential repair or disposal in late May. The Pentagon downplayed the significance of the parts, referring to them as 'unserviceable.'