SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will keep a temporary suspension of F-16 training flights in place until investigations show it is safe to resume them, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Thursday (May 9).
The suspension was put in place after an F-16 jet crashed at Tengah Air Base shortly after taking off for a routine training flight on Wednesday afternoon.
In its second update on the incident, MINDEF also said that the crashed plane’s flight data recorder had been recovered.
“The RSAF has retrieved the incident aircraft’s flight data recorder and is working closely with the manufacturer of the F-16 fighter jet, Lockheed Martin, to review the recorded data,” the ministry said.
“The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau from the Ministry of Transport will also be supporting the investigation.”
F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin told CNA earlier it was “thankful to see reports the pilot ejected safely”.
“We are standing by to support as needed,” a spokesperson said in response to queries about the company’s involvement in MINDEF’s investigations.
MINDEF added that a safety time-out had been called on Thursday.
“Commanders across the RSAF led their units in reviewing safety practices and contingency procedures,” it said.
“Following the conclusion of the safety time-out, the RSAF will resume flight training on May 10, 2024, with the exception of the F-16 fleet.
“The RSAF continues to maintain its operational readiness. It stands ready to defend Singapore’s skies 24/7 using its other air and ground-based assets.”
The fighter crashed after its pilot encountered “flight control issues” upon lifting off the runway. He ejected from the aircraft with no major injuries.
Following the crash, MINDEF said that training for RSAF’s F-16 fleet had been temporarily suspended until investigations showed that it is safe to resume.
Singapore’s F-16s have been in service since 1998.
The last crash involving one of its fighter jets was in May 2004. An RSAF F-16C crashed during a night training mission in the US state of Arizona, killing its 25-year-old pilot.
That incident was put down to human factor, with a board of inquiry concluding that the pilot could have experienced gravity-induced loss of consciousness or spatial disorientation, which resulted in his inability to recover the aircraft from an inverted position.
Singapore’s F-16s were recently given a mid-life upgrade but will have to retire after the mid-2030s.
The country has identified the F-35 family of jets as a replacement.
