US Air Force grounds T-38 Talon training fleet after Alabama crash

The US Air Force has paused flight operations for its entire T-38 Talon fleet after a May 12, 2026, crash involving an aircraft operating from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

The fleet-wide operational pause affects T-38 units across Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Global Strike Command, the Air Force said.

The service said the pause will allow an ongoing Safety Board to locate and assess evidence from the mishap while the investigation continues.

The duration of the pause has not been determined. The Air Force said the timing will depend on engineering analysis and the development of an inspection process to clear aircraft for a safe return to flight.

Inspections are expected to begin soon. Individual aircraft may return to flying once inspections and any required maintenance actions are complete.

The May 12, 2026, mishap involved a Northrop T-38 Talon II. The aircraft crashed at about noon local time, according to the 14th Flying Training Wing. Two pilots ejected safely. The cause remains under investigation.

The Air Force said the operational pause applies only to the T-38 fleet.

During the pause, aircrews will rely on simulator training to maintain proficiency and currency requirements.

The T-38 has been a central part of US Air Force pilot training for decades and remains the service’s primary advanced jet trainer. The aircraft also supports companion training and other missions outside the formal undergraduate pilot training pipeline.

The pause comes as the Air Force continues preparations for the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, the T-38’s planned replacement. The T-7A program has faced delays, leaving the older Talon fleet in service longer than originally expected.

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