MAY 20, 2026 – Out of an abundance of caution, the Air Force is implementing a fleet-wide operational pause for all T-38 Talon aircraft, impacting units across Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Global Strike Command.
This pause in flight operations allows an ongoing Safety Board to locate and assess evidence from a May 12, 2026, T-38 mishap involving an aircraft assigned to Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
The pause ensures the continued safety of Air Force personnel and equipment involved in flying T-38 operations while the investigation progresses.
The duration of the pause remains undetermined pending further engineering analysis and development of an inspection process to clear aircraft for a safe return to flight.
Inspections are anticipated to begin as early as this week. Individual aircraft may resume flying operations once the inspection process and, if necessary, any corresponding maintenance actions are complete.
This operational pause strictly applies to the T-38 Talon fleet.
Affected major commands are actively working to mitigate impacts to operations, training and readiness.
During this period, aircrews will maximize simulator training to maintain proficiency and currency requirements.
Mission
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. Air Education and Training Command is the primary user of the T-38 for joint specialized undergraduate pilot training. Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration also use the T-38A in various roles.
Features
The T-38 has swept wings, a streamlined fuselage and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems power the ailerons, rudder and other flight control surfaces. Critical aircraft components are waist high and can be easily reached by maintenance crews.
The T-38C incorporates a “glass cockpit” with integrated avionics displays, head-up display and an electronic “no drop bomb” scoring system. The AT-38B has a gun sight and practice bomb dispenser.
The T-38 needs as little as 2,300 feet (695.2 meters) of runway to take off and can climb from sea level to nearly 30,000 feet (9,068 meters) in one minute. T-38s modified by the propulsion modernization program have approximately 19 percent more thrust, reducing takeoff distance by 9 percent.
The instructor and student sit in tandem on rocket-powered ejection seats in a pressurized, air-conditioned cockpit.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs