AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, The Australian air force on July 18 grounded its fleet of F-111 fighters after a wheel fell off one of the aircraft and forced an emergency landing.
The two crew members managed to land the plane safely at Amberley Air Force base in the northern state of Queensland despite the left wheel coming off shortly after take-off.
But Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said it was necessary to temporarily ground the 26-plane fleet to ensure there was nothing structurally wrong with the other aircraft.
Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd said such an incident had never before occurred in the F-111
