Training Flights at Pensacola NAS Grounded Amid Investigation

Spending cuts have so damaged naval aviation that many planes are not safe to fly, said U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday after meeting with Pensacola Naval Air Station pilots about problems with the oxygen system in the T-45C Goshawk training jet.

Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said investigations are also underway into problems with the F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet.

Navy and Marine pilots flying both jets have reported issues of sudden-onset hypoxia related to unknown contaminants in the airplanes' oxygen systems, the congressman said.

"This contamination is poisoning our pilots," he said.