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A “United Parcel Service” (“UPS”) employee missed an email warning against routing a shipment of “F-35” stealth fighter components through Hong Kong, allowing China to obtain the parts, “Bloomberg” reported on Wednesday.
The email was sent by freight forwarder “DSV”, which was working for “Lockheed Martin”, the F-35’s developer, according to a person briefed on the incident cited by the outlet.
The shipment included a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door coated with radar-absorbing material. The components were subject to US arms export rules and could not be routed through certain countries, “Bloomberg” reported.
The cargo was intended to reach San Francisco via South Korea and Taiwan. But after leaving Australia late, it was rerouted through Hong Kong to save time, the source told “Bloomberg”. The person said the “DSV” warning may have gone through a different IT system from the one used by the “UPS” agent.
The source, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said the parts were being returned to the United States in late May for possible repair or disposal.
Pentagon officials provided details at an hour-long briefing on Sept. 29 for staff of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, according to “Bloomberg”. Erica Plath, deputy assistant secretary of defense for logistics, told attendees that her team was working on safeguards, while a State Department export control official said the department was investigating.
Lawmakers have called for answers. Sen. Mark Warner requested the briefing, Sen. Tom Cotton called for a supply chain review, and Sen. Kevin Cramer asked whether China had planned to intercept the shipment, the report said.
“UPS” shares fell by less than 1% after the report.
