Air Force grounds F-35 squadron after oxygen deprivation issues
By Ellen Mitchell
June 9, 2017
The Air Force has “temporarily” grounded a squadron of F-35s fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona after five pilots reported symptoms consistent with oxygen deprivation, the service said Friday.
The 56th Fighter Wing cancelled local flying operations for its F-35A Lightning II fighters after five incidents since May 2 where pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
In every incident the F-35’s back-up oxygen system kicked in and pilots were able to land the plane safely, the Air Force said.
The Air Force has “temporarily” grounded a squadron of F-35s fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona after five pilots reported symptoms consistent with oxygen deprivation, the service said Friday.
The 56th Fighter Wing cancelled local flying operations for its F-35A Lightning II fighters after five incidents since May 2 where pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
In every incident the F-35’s back-up oxygen system kicked in and pilots were able to land the plane safely, the Air Force said.