Published March 21, 2008 08:11 AM
Israel grounds some F-16 fighters over cancer fears
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli air force said on Friday it was suspending training flights using U.S.-made F-16I fighter jets after finding a suspected cancer-causing substance in the cockpit.
Israel informed Lockheed Martin Corp, the U.S. defense contractor that manufactures the F-16, that formaldehyde residues were leaking into the cockpit, the military said in a statement.
"Tests have shown that the substance is formaldehyde, which was recently identified as a carcinogen," the statement said.
The two-seater F-16I, known in Israel as the "Storm," was designed specifically for the Israeli air force.
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"The air force has passed the information to the aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and tests are being coordinated with the company," the statement said.
An army spokeswoman said only training flights would be grounded.
(Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Giles Elgood)