A T-53A aircraft sustained damage when it crashed into a hangar upon landing at the Air Force Academy airfield, announced academy officials. Neither of the two crewmembers suffered injuries in the Oct. 1 mishap, but the hangar was also damaged, according to the Oct. 2 academy release. A board of officers will investigate the accident, and the officials said the academy would release additional details as they become available. The T-53 is a primary flight trainer assigned to the academy’s 306th Flying Training Group. The school purchased a fleet of 25 T-53s last year.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
