A T-38 Talon is parked on the east flightline prior to a 435th Fighter Training Squadron group October 21, 2024, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sean Worrell)
WASHINGTON — The Air Force has lifted the grounding of the T-38 Talon after some aircraft were able to clear an inspection process, according to an Air Force spokesperson.
Inspections began last week, the spokesperson confirmed to Breaking Defense today. It’s not clear how long it will take for the entire fleet to be inspected and resume normal operations.
The Air Force announced May 19 it was grounding the fleet of training jets “[o]ut of an abundance of caution” after a T-38 crashed in Mississippi on May 12. Both pilots safely ejected.
The cause of the Mississippi mishap has not been disclosed. When the aircraft was subsequently grounded, the Air Force said T-38s would have to be individually inspected and receive any necessary corrective maintenance before they could resume flying.
