Parts for an F-35 fighter jet that UPS was meant to ship from Australia to the United States ended up in the hands of Chinese authorities after the cargo was mistakenly routed through Hong Kong, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
A UPS employee reportedly missed an email instructing the company not to route the cargo through Hong Kong. The shipment contained a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door. The parts were supposed to travel from Australia to San Francisco for inspection, repair or disposal.
U.S. arms-trade rules restrict the transit of such components through certain countries. The Pentagon and State Department opened investigations after the incident. Members of Congress also called for a review of the global supply chain for U.S. weapons.
Lockheed Martin developed the F-35, which is operated by the United States and 19 allied countries. Bloomberg also recalled earlier U.S. concerns that a potential sale of the fighter to Saudi Arabia could give China access to its technology. Similar concerns had previously blocked a sale of F-35s to the United Arab Emirates.