Israel declared an all-clear in a health scare that grounded many of its most advanced warplanes.
Israel’s F-16I jets were declared fully operational Monday after investigations determined that the quantities of formaldehyde discovered in the breathing apparatus of some of the planes did not pose a serious risk to pilots.
The discovery of the leak two months ago prompted Israel to suspend training flights in the F-16Is, considered the Air Force’s strategic vanguard. Pilots underwent tests out of concern the chemical was carcinogenic.
Seven of the F-16Is are undergoing overhauls while the rest of the fleet — believed to number approximately 100 planes — is in action, military sources said.
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