Taiwan Grounds F-16 Fleet After Jet Vanishes

Taiwan has suspended all training flights for its F-16 fighter jets. This urgent action follows the disappearance of one of its advanced warplanes. The single-seat F-16 vanished from radar screens on Tuesday. Contact was lost at 11:29 GMT off Taiwan's eastern coast. A major search operation is underway. The pilot remains missing. No debris from the aircraft has been found. The incident raises immediate questions about the cause. Possible factors include mechanical failure or pilot error. Taiwan's Air Force has launched a full investigation. This crash temporarily reduces the island's air defense readiness. The F-16 is a cornerstone of Taiwan's military, tasked with deterring potential threats.