A U.S. Air Force T-38C Talon assigned to the 49th Flying Training Squadron taxies to the runway on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., Oct. 10, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaylie Dille)
WASHINGTON — The Air Force is implementing a “fleet-wide operational pause” for the T-38 Talon fleet effective immediately, the service announced today.
The aircraft is being grounded “[o]ut of an abundance of caution” following a crash of a T-38 on May 12, according to an Air Force press release. Two pilots in the incident both safely ejected from the aircraft, which was operating from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.
The Air Force press release says the grounding will enable an ongoing accident investigation into the May 12 incident, in order “to locate and assess evidence” and ensure “the continued safety of Air Force personnel and equipment involved in flying T-38 operations while the investigation progresses.
“The duration of the pause remains undetermined pending further engineering analysis and development of an inspection process to clear aircraft for a safe return to flight,” the release adds.
