Singapore Temporarily Suspends F-16 Training After Crash
The Singaporean Ministry of Defence has announced a temporary suspension of training flights for its F-16 aircraft fleet following a crash during a routine training exercise on Wednesday.
The pilot ejected safely before the crash and is in stable condition. The ministry stated that the suspension is a precautionary measure until investigations confirm the safety of resuming training.
The pilot, with over 2,000 flying hours on the F-16, reported encountering flight control issues upon takeoff from Tengah Air Base. A detailed investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Singapore has operated the U.S.-made F-16 for nearly three decades. The last fighter jet crash occurred in May 2004, when an F-16C went down during a night training mission in Arizona, resulting in the pilot's death.
Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen expressed disappointment over the incident and reiterated the air force's goal of achieving zero crashes. He assured that a thorough investigation is underway to identify and address all contributing factors.