Taiwan's First Two F-16V Block 70 Jets Abort Delivery Flight, Turn Back to Hawaii

The first two of Taiwan's 66 on-order F-16 C/D Block 70 ("Viper") fighters — single-seat jets with serial numbers 6727 and 6728 — took off from Hickam Field, Hawaii on September 7, 2026 on the next leg of their delivery route (Hawaii to Guam, then Guam to Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County) but turned back to Hawaii shortly after takeoff. Neither Lockheed Martin nor Taiwan's air force publicly explained the reason; unconfirmed reports pointed to a technical problem with one aircraft, while officials ruled out neither a mechanical fault nor weather. The jets — originally due for delivery in 2023 and delayed by production-line relocation and supply-chain disruptions — had already spent roughly two weeks stuck in Hawaii after departing Lockheed's Greenville, South Carolina plant on August 17. The aircraft are slated to join the air force's 7th Tactical Fighter Wing at Chihhang, defending Taiwan's eastern approaches; the remaining 64 jets are scheduled for delivery through 2027-2028.