T-38 Talon operations paused

The Air Force has ordered a service-wide stand-down of its T-38 Talon fleet following a May 12 mishap involving a jet from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, halting flight operations across Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Global Strike Command.

The pause is intended to give an ongoing Safety Board time to gather and assess evidence from the incident and to prioritize the safety of aircrew and aircraft during the investigation. The service has not set a timeline for returning to normal operations. Engineers are developing an inspection regimen to clear aircraft for flight, with checks expected to begin as early as this week. Individual jets will be allowed back in the air once inspections—and any required maintenance—are complete. The action applies only to the T-38.

Units affected by the stand-down are taking steps to limit disruptions to training and operations. Aircrews are expected to lean heavily on simulators to maintain proficiency and required currencies while the pause remains in effect.

The twin-engine, supersonic T-38 has been the Air Force’s advanced jet trainer since the 1960s and is also used by several commands as a companion trainer for bomber and reconnaissance pilots. The aircraft is slated to be replaced in coming years by the T-7A Red Hawk, though the Talon remains central to the pilot training pipeline. Columbus AFB is one of the Air Force’s primary pilot training hubs.