US warns Belgium to check F16s for cracks

The United States has warned Belgium and several other European countries of possible cracks arising in the two-seater version of the F-16 fighter jet. The Belgian Air Force has already had to repair three of its F16s.

The US Air Force discovered the structural cracks in more than half of its fleet during routine post-flight inspections last month. As many as 81 of the 157 two-seater F16s showed cracks in their hulls. How the cracks formed is not yet clear, but the American Air Force has decided to temporarily ground more than half of its fighter jets out of precaution.

The United States has since advised several countries to inspect their own fleets for cracks, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Israel.

The Belgian Air Force told the VRT newsroom that it has 10 2-seater F16s which it uses for pilot training. Three of those jets indeed displayed cracks, but have since been repaired. All of Belgium’s F16s are about 30 years old and are now being closely inspected.