The nation’s F-22 fighter jets are back in service, four months after they were grounded over pilot complaints about a lack of oxygen.
Air Force officials began flying the stealth planes again Wednesday following a stand-down order imposed over hypoxia issues reported by at least 12 pilots in the last three years.
The Air Force has studied the plane for months, and officials announced this week that the analysis of data collected prompted the return to service. More information about what led to the decision was not immediately available.
The planes and pilots will be subjected to additional inspections and testing.
Nearly a year ago an F-22 crashed in interior Alaska, but Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz told reporters yesterday that they are convinced that crash was not due to the oxygen problem.
The Air Force has 170 Raptors, 40 of them based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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