Portugal’s Air Force F-16 jets damaged as Storm Kristin hits Monte Real Air Base

Portugal’s Air Force said Air Base No. 5 at Monte Real suffered “significant” material damage after Storm Kristin hit the Leiria region on January 28, 2026. Officials confirmed that no one was injured  

Photos circulating online appear to show multiple F-16 airframes inside a hangar, with large sections of hangar cladding and structural elements displaced or collapsed inward, and at least two jets apparently impacted by fallen debris.  

The Portuguese Air Force has not disclosed how many aircraft were damaged or the extent of the damage. 

Another photo from inside the hangar https://t.co/SH4xAYu23F pic.twitter.com/s6XaxDdqT9— Drecas (@Drecas_2000) January 28, 2026

Portuguese Air Force confirms “major material damage” at Monte Real 

In a statement released late January 28, 2026, the Portuguese Air Force said the passage of Storm Kristin “significantly affected” the Leiria area, with notable impacts in Monte Real where Air Base No. 5 is located. The service described “major material damage,” but said there were no injuries.  

The Portuguese Air Force said it is acting “immediately” to restore normal activity at the base, prioritizing the safety of military and civilian personnel. It also stressed that, despite the storm’s impact, it “maintains operational” Portugal’s air defense mission.  

Monte Real is Portugal’s main fighter base and home to its F-16 squadrons, making it central to day-to-day air policing and readiness. The Portugese Air Force operates a fleet of 21 F-16 fighters. 

At this stage, the Portuguese Air Force has not indicated whether the damaged aircraft were operational line jets, aircraft in maintenance, or airframes in longer-term work, nor whether any hangar infrastructure will be taken out of service for repairs. 

Record gusts reported at the base during Kristin 

Portuguese outlets reported extreme winds across central and western Portugal as Kristin moved through, with Renascença and other local outlets reporting noting a 178 kilometers (110 miles) per hour gust recorded at Monte Real Air Base.  

Portuguese civil protection reported thousands of incidents nationwide, including tree falls and structural collapses. At least five fatalities were linked to Kristin, with four deaths in the Leiria district and one in Vila Franca de Xira (Lisbon district). Three additional deaths are under investigation for a possible connection to the storm and emergency response conditions. 

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