Air 
Combat Command last week stood down the F-22 fleet indefinitely over reports about potential malfunctions with the aircraft’s onboard oxygen-generation system that provides the pilot with breathable air in flight. “The safety of our airmen is paramount and we will take the necessary time to ensure we perform a thorough investigation,” ACC officials told the Daily Report. They said the investigation will focus on pinpointing the cause of pilot “physiological-hypoxia-like” events reported through Air Force safety channels, and then devising, testing, and fielding solutions. A malfunctioning oxygen system could cause the pilot to blackout and face a life-threatening situation. In one incident, an F-22 pilot at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, scraped his aircraft’s underside on trees during a landing approach, but could not recall what happened, reported Blooomberg. The grounding comes six months after the fatal crash of an F-22 in Alaska. Since that crash is still under investigation, the ACC officials declined to say whether the oxygen system was a factor. In January, though, ACC restricted the flight ceiling for F-22 training, prohibiting pilots from flying higher than 25,000 feet, due to concern over the oxygen system. The aircraft’s normal operating ceiling is above 50,000 feet. (See our initial coverage)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
