Air Force Times: F-35s at Luke Air Force Base grounded after pilots suffered oxygen deprivation
The 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, cancelled local flying operations on Friday for its F-35A Lightning II fighters after five incidents in which pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
In a release Friday, the Air Force said that the five pilots reported those incidents over the last month, since May 2. The backup oxygen systems in the F-35As kicked in during each event, and the pilots followed the procedures necessary to safely land the plane.
"In order to synchronize operations and maintenance efforts toward safe flying operations, we have cancelled local F-35A flying," Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, commander of the 56th, said in the release. "The Air Force takes these physiological incidents seriously, and our focus is on the safety and well-being of our pilots. We are taking the necessary steps to find the root cause of these incidents."
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More News On Oxygen Deprivation Problems Resulting In The Grounding Of F-35s
F-35 jets grounded at U.S. Air Force base in Arizona -officials -- Reuters
F-35 flights halted at 1 base after hypoxia-like incidents -- ABC news/AP
Some Air Force F-35s Grounded as Pilots Deprived of Oxygen -- Bloomberg
F-35 fighters grounded over oxygen problems -- CNN
Air Force grounds F-35 squadron after oxygen deprivation issues -- The Hill
Air Force grounds F-35A operations at training base after pilots suffered hypoxia -- Ars Technica
F-35 fighter wing grounded after pilots report problems with the oxygen system -- Business Insider
More Troubles: US Air Force Grounds 55 F-35s as Pilots Suffer Oxygen Deprivation -- Sputnik
