US Marines resume F-35B flights

[WASHINGTON] The US Marine Corps has resumed flights of its Lockheed Martin Corp F-35B jets that were suspended following a fire on an Air Force F-35A. It is also preparing for the jet's global debut in Britain next month after the discovery of engine pieces from the F-35A pointed to an issue with that specific model.

"The Marine Corps will resume F-35B flight operations today. We are continuing with our plans to deploy to the UK next month," said Marine Corps spokesman Captain Richard Ulsh on Friday.

Three F-35B jets flew on Friday from a Marine Corps base in Yuma, Arizona to an air base in southern Maryland, where they will be readied for their first trans-Atlantic flights, according to sources familiar with the programme.