Aviation News – Portugal’s Air Force said Air Base No. 5 at Monte Real suffered significant material damage after Storm Kristin struck the Leiria region on January 28, 2026, highlighting the vulnerability of critical military infrastructure to extreme weather. No injuries were reported, but operational assets were affected.
Storm Kristin hit central Portugal on January 28, 2026, with strong winds damaging facilities at Monte Real, home to the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. Officials confirmed material losses but did not disclose how many aircraft were affected or the full extent of the damage. Images circulating online show hangar cladding and structural elements displaced or collapsed inward, with at least two F-16 airframes apparently struck by debris.
The affected hangar appears to have sustained structural failure that allowed wind-driven debris to impact aircraft parked inside. Such damage can require extensive inspections, repairs, and potential component replacement, temporarily reducing aircraft availability and increasing maintenance workloads while safety assessments are completed.
Photos Portugese Air Force
