{
  "id": 8634898,
  "title": "US Congress investigates diversion of sensitive F-35 parts to Hong Kong: report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/us-congress-investigates-diversion-of-sensitive-f-35-parts-to-hong",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:08:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3368143/us-congress-investigates-diversion-sensitive-f-35-parts-hong-kong-report"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States Congress is investigating allegations that sensitive F-35 fighter jet parts were diverted to Hong Kong, according to a report by Politico. The shipment, which originated from Australia and was intended for repairs in the United States, unexpectedly went missing en route to Hong Kong. The city's authorities have declined to comment on the case. A spokesperson for Hong Kong government confirmed it would not comment on individual cases. The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office acknowledged being aware of the shipment issue, stating it was working with US authorities and industry partners to retrieve the components and prevent future occurrences. The State Department also declined to comment on Politico's inquiry. The incident, reported to have involved a canopy containing stealth technology, has raised concerns about potential reverse engineering. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, manages the program's supply chain and operates commercial shipping providers. The company stated it follows all US regulations for shipping aircraft components and prioritizes the integrity of the F-35 programme and the security of allied partners. In 2023, a Government Accountability Office report found that over 1 million F-35 spare parts had gone missing in the previous five years, with the department unable to review certain losses due to Lockheed Martin's control over the information.",
  "summary": "The United States Congress has reportedly launched a probe after a shipment of sensitive F-35 fighter jet parts was said to have been unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong and went missing, with the city’s authorities declining to comment on the case. A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said over the weekend that it would not comment on individual cases, a day after US media outlet Politico…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bangkok Post",
        "title": "Hong Kong customs seizes record B533m marijuana shipped by sea from Thailand",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/hong-kong-customs-seizes-record-b533m-marijuana-shipped-by-sea-from",
        "published": "2026-09-20T05:27:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "US Congress investigates diversion of sensitive F-35 parts to Hong Kong: report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/us-congress-investigates-diversion-of-sensitive-f-35-parts-to-hong-8636257",
        "published": "2026-09-20T07:08:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Jonassen hails Malaysian women's composure in win over Hong Kong",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/jonassen-hails-malaysian-womens-composure-in-win-over-hong-kong",
        "published": "2026-09-20T11:50:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}