UPS Employee Missed Email, Causing F-35 Parts to Be Misrouted to Hong Kong
Photo: U.S. Navy/Dane Wiedmann
Epoch Times (Hong Kong/Beijing Time) October 8, 2026 11:23 AM
A shipment of F-35 fighter jet components, originally destined for the United States from Australia, was inadvertently rerouted to Hong Kong and subsequently detained by the Chinese government. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the incident occurred because a United Parcel Service (UPS) employee missed an email warning.
According to reports, the freight forwarding company DSV had sent an email warning that the parts were prohibited from transiting through certain jurisdictions due to restrictions under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ITAR specifically governs the export and transfer of U.S. defense articles and technologies to prevent sensitive weapons technology from falling into the hands of adversaries.
A person with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg that the UPS employee responsible for handling the shipment missed this crucial warning message. The individual requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The components for the stealth fighter jets were intended to be shipped to San Francisco, USA, for repair or disposal, passing through South Korea and Taiwan, both defense partners of the United States. However, due to delays in their departure from Australia, the shipment was mistakenly rerouted through Hong Kong to expedite delivery, ultimately falling under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Washington has long considered Hong Kong to be no different from mainland China.
Sources indicated that DSV sent the warning email on behalf of F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. The email also included the ITAR designation, as required by U.S. regulations. However, the digital platform used by DSV for this email might have differed from the system used by the UPS agent handling the cargo.
On September 29, Pentagon officials briefed staff from the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees on the details of the misrouted shipment. The latest disclosures shed further light on the sequence of events, sparking widespread concern.
Spokespersons for both DSV and UPS declined to comment.
The F-35 is considered the world's most advanced fighter jet and represents the most expensive weapons program in U.S. history. The aircraft's components are coated with radar-absorbent materials to enhance their stealth capabilities. For years, the CCP has targeted the F-35 for espionage.
