RSAF F-16 training temporarily suspended in wake of Tengah Air Base crash

SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has temporarily suspended training for its F-16 fleet "as a safety precaution" after one of its jets crashed at Tengah Air Base shortly after taking off on Wednesday afternoon (May 8).

Training has been halted until investigations show that it is safe to resume, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said late on Wednesday.

The ministry said earlier that the plane had experienced "an issue" during take-off at about 12.35pm.

The pilot, who ejected from the plane before it crashed, did not suffer major injuries.

"He is ambulant, conscious and talking. But as a precaution, (he) will stay in hospital for observation," Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post. 

In an update on Wednesday night, MINDEF added the pilot had undergone a full medical examination, which did not reveal any major injuries.

"The serviceman is an experienced pilot with over 2,000 flying hours on the F-16 aircraft," said the ministry.

"According to the pilot, he encountered flight control issues upon lifting off the runway at Tengah Air Base for a routine training flight."

Detailed investigations are ongoing, said MINDEF.

F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin told CNA it was aware of the crash and "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.

Such incidents are extremely rare in the RSAF.

The last time one of its fighter jets crashed was 20 years ago. In May 2004, an RSAF F-16C crashed during a night training mission in the US state of Arizona, killing the 25-year-old Singapore pilot who was initially reported missing. 

A board of inquiry concluded 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.

In 2010, an RSAF AH-64 Apache helicopter made an emergency landing at an open field near a residential area in Woodlands due to issues with the engine. Both pilots were unhurt. 

"The goal for the RSAF must still be zero crashes," Dr Ng said. "Full investigations are underway to make sure all factors are identified and rectified decisively."

Singapore's F-16s have been in service since 1998. They were recently given a mid-life upgrade but would have to retire after the mid-2030s.

The country had identified the F-35 family of jets as a replacement. 

In February, it announced that it would buy eight F-35A jets, adding to an earlier order of 12 F-35 jets of the “B” variant.