US and Japanese civilian and military assets on July 22 retrieved an F-16 pilot from the waters of the north Pacific after his airplane splashed down about 250 miles northeast of Hokkaido Island, Japan, on the previous day, according to Air Force officials. The pilot, assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, was in stable condition aboard a US commercial vessel, they said in a release. He was en route from Misawa to North America on July 21 when he had to eject from the F-16, states a Misawa release. “The men and women of US Forces Japan are extremely grateful for the successful and safe recovery of our pilot,” said Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, US Forces Japan commander, in a July 22 statement. He thanked the Japanese for their help in locating the pilot and coordinating his recovery. The Air Force is investigating the mishap to determine its cause.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.