T-38C Talon Training Stands Down

Air Education and Training Command (AETC) officials temporarily suspended all flights of T-38C Talon trainer aircraft following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, TX on May 1, the second fatal crash in two weeks involving T-38 Talon trainers On April 23, two pilots were killed when their T-38 crashed at Columbus AFB, MS.

USAF General William R. Looney III, AETC commander, ordered the stand-down. "We have no evidence that these incidents are related," Gen. Looney said. "But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it's prudent to stand down the T-38's." The USAF operates approximately 500 T-38 trainer aircraft.

The 19th Air Force commander ordered a one-day safety stand-down May 5 of all aircraft operations in his command. Maj. Gen. Irving L. Halter Jr., ordered the stand-down as an opportunity for all those associated with flying in the command to re-emphasize and re-focus on the importance of flying safety and operational procedures.