Lockheed F-35 Fleet Grounded by U.S. Military After Fire

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-04/lockheed-f-35-fleet-grounded-by-u-s-military-after-fire.html


A F-35 fighter jet sits on the deck of USS Wasp

The U.S. military grounded its entire fleet of F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) as a safety precaution after a fire on one of the planes prompted an aborted takeoff.

The Navy and Marine Corps versions of the jets were taken out of service, the Defense Department said in a statement yesterday, a week after the Air Force halted flights. Engine inspection results will determine when the jets can fly again, according to the statement.

The actions are a blow to the F-35, the costliest U.S. weapons system, which is being built while it remains under development.

Defense Department officials acted after an emergency at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on June 23, when a fire in the rear of one plane forced the pilot to abort a takeoff. The cause is under investigation, according to the statement.