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Two Pilots Eject Safely as Alabama T-38 Crashes

5/14/2026

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Summary

Pilots Eject

Two U.S. Air Force pilots ejected safely before a T-38 training jet crashed around noon near the Fayette-Lamar County line, off Raspberry Road in Lamar County, Alabama on May 12, 2026.
Columbus Air Force Base, home of the 14th Flying Training Wing, said the cause is unknown and a Safety Investigation Board will investigate.
The Air Force plans to replace the T-38 with Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer.

Summary

Pilots Eject Safely

Pilots ejected from a T-38C during a routine training flight and were taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo for treatment.
They were released from the hospital around 9 p.m. on May 12, 2026.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency helped Columbus Air Force Base secure the crash site in a heavily wooded area.
Fire Chief Shawn Ricchuito coordinated with local law-enforcement agencies during the investigation.

Summary

T-38 Lands Safely

Tracking data recorded a T-38C (callsign REEF41, tail 66-4339) transmitting squawk 7700 at the crash time, which landed safely.
The T-38 Talon, first flown in 1959, remains the Air Force’s supersonic trainer and is used by Columbus AFB’s 14th Wing in a SUPT fighter-bomber program.
After retiring its T-1A fleet in 2026 and deactivating the 50th Squadron in 2025, the base now relies on the T-6A Texan II as its primary trainer.

History

Historical Context

The USAF introduced the Northrop T-38 Talon, the first supersonic trainer, on 17 March 1961 after its maiden flight on 10 April 1959. Over 1,187 were built and the type logged 25 million flight hours, staying central to pilot training. The 12 May 2026 crash in Lamar County, Alabama, where two pilots ejected safely, underscores the move to replace the fleet with Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk.

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Pilots Eject

Two U.S. Air Force pilots ejected safely before a T-38 training jet crashed around noon near the Fayette-Lamar County line, off Raspberry Road in Lamar County, Alabama on May 12, 2026.
Columbus Air Force Base, home of the 14th Flying Training Wing, said the cause is unknown and a Safety Investigation Board will investigate.
The Air Force plans to replace the T-38 with Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer.

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