Following collaborative engineering and maintenance inspections initiated after a May 12 mishap at Columbus Air Force Base, the fleet is expected to safely resume flying status in the coming days.
This pause allows an ongoing safety board to continue investigating a May 12, 2026, T-38 mishap involving an aircraft assigned to Columbus AFB.
The Air Force is implementing a fleet-wide operational pause for all T-38 Talon aircraft, ensuring the continued safety of Air Force personnel and equipment during an ongoing investigation.