Australia says F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong believed not sensitive

On September 22, 2026, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the diversion of F-35 components to Hong Kong. The investigation revealed that approximately 81 F-35 parts were redirected from an RAAF aircraft undergoing maintenance at Williamtown in South Australia. According to Marles, these parts were determined not to be sensitive or classified information. Authorities believe the redirection occurred due to a clerical error during the logistics process. Further inquiries are underway to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this incident involving military hardware.