1. Events
 / Modified jun 20, 2017 6:01 p.m.

F-35s Fly Again in Phoenix, Cleared After Hypoxia Reports

The planes were grounded for reports of oxygen deprivation issues.
by Christopher Conover

F-35 Luke AFB An F-35A Lightning II lands at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, Arizona, April 2016.
Staci Miller, U.S. Air Force

The Air Force’s newest plane is once again flying in Arizona.

Flights resume Wednesday after a nearly two-week grounding due to pilot reports of hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, in the planes based at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix.

Investigators found no cause for the hypoxia reports.

Officials with the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing, based at Tucson International Airport, said there were no reports of hypoxia problems from their pilots. The 162nd FW flies the F-16 aircraft. There were no reports of hypoxia problems in the A-10s flown at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Hypoxia complaints are not limited to the F-35. Since 2010, pilots of the Navy’s F-18 and E/A 18s have reported intermittent problems.

In 2016, pilots of the F-22 also reported oxygen deprivation problems.

MORE: Military, News
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