US supersonic bomber crashes — RT World News
Photos circulating online appear to show a fire not far from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota
A US B-1B Lancer long-range bomber crashed outside Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, military officials said, noting that the accident occurred while the plane was wrapping up a training mission.
Ellsworth Air Force Base confirmed the incident in a statement issued Thursday evening, saying the bomber fell at approximately 6 p.m. local time while trying to land at the facility.
He added: “At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a training mission. There were four aircrew members on board. All four were ejected safely.” the statement He added that an investigation has been opened.
Unconfirmed photos circulated on social media allegedly showed a fire outside the military base, although officials provided few details about the aftermath.
Images from cameras used by the South Dakota Department of Transportation show the currently ongoing fire at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City following the crash of a B-1B “Lancer” heavy bomber. https://t.co/3znNebjBg0
— Sentdefender (@sentdefender) January 5, 2024
One of three major strategic bombers in the US arsenal, the B-1B Lancer was once among Washington's best nuclear-capable warplanes, capable of carrying the largest payload of munitions and reaching the fastest speeds. However, the B-1B has since been stripped of its nuclear status, as agreed under the Cold War-era START Treaty with the Soviet Union, with the aircraft finally undergoing physical conversions in 2011.
“The external attachment points, or hard points, on the aircraft were modified, to prevent the nuclear plumes from attaching to the aircraft at all.” Master Sgt. Brian Hudson, B-1 avionics director at Air Force Global Strike Command, to explain In an interview with Military.com.
Despite losing its nuclear mission, the Lancer remains a primary heavy bomber alongside the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit, having entered service in 1986. The aircraft is stationed at Ellsworth AFB and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, and several aircraft are stationed. They have been deployed on “deterrence” missions to Guam in recent years.
In late 2023, two Lancers were intercepted as they approached Russian airspace over the Baltic Sea by a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. After being spotted, the two American planes changed their course and moved away from the border without any incident.
You can share this story on social media:
