B-2 Stealth Bomber Crashes

Filed in archive Aviation News on February 23, 2008

On Saturday morning, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed taking off from Andersen AFB on Guam. This was the first B-2 bomber to crash. According to an article on MSNBC, both pilots ejected and are listed in stable condition.

The aircraft was one in a flight of four B-2s that was returning to Whiteman AFB, Mo., following a deployment that began Oct. 5, Czerwinski said. They were being replaced in the constant bomber presence role at Andersen by six B-52s.

The Spirit of Kansas crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff at about 10:30 a.m. local time, Czerwinski said. It was not clear whether the crew had declared an emergency before ejecting.

Skies were clear, and there was no indication that weather contributed to the crash.

The other B-2s returned to Andersen. Czerwinski said it was not clear how many of the four had taken off before the crash.

The B-2 Spirit first flew in July 1989, and the first operational aircraft was delivered in December 1993. The B-2 made its combat debut in Operation Allied Force against Serbian targets, flying nonstop missions from Whiteman.