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Guam crash for B-2 stealth bomber | Guam crash for B-2 stealth bomber |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A US B-2 stealth bomber - one of the world's most expensive military aircraft - has crashed on the Pacific island of Guam. | |
The jet crashed shortly after taking off from the island's Andersen Air Force Base, but both pilots ejected and survived, the US Air Force (USAF) said. | The jet crashed shortly after taking off from the island's Andersen Air Force Base, but both pilots ejected and survived, the US Air Force (USAF) said. |
Black smoke could be seen billowing from the site, witnesses said. | Black smoke could be seen billowing from the site, witnesses said. |
B-2 bombers cost $1.2bn each to build. They are capable of deploying both conventional and nuclear weapons. | |
Crowds gathered as emergency vehicles attended the scene after the crash, which happened around 1045 local time (0045 GMT). | Crowds gathered as emergency vehicles attended the scene after the crash, which happened around 1045 local time (0045 GMT). |
No mission details | No mission details |
Both pilots had been medically evaluated and were "in good condition", the USAF said. | Both pilots had been medically evaluated and were "in good condition", the USAF said. |
B-2 bombers have seen service in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan Fact file: B-2 stealth bomber | B-2 bombers have seen service in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan Fact file: B-2 stealth bomber |
A board of officers will investigate the causes of the incident. | A board of officers will investigate the causes of the incident. |
A brief USAF statement did not provide details of the bomber's mission in Guam, a US territory 6,000 km (3,700 miles) south-west of Hawaii. | A brief USAF statement did not provide details of the bomber's mission in Guam, a US territory 6,000 km (3,700 miles) south-west of Hawaii. |
The USAF has 21 B-2 bombers based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, but several have been rotated through Guam since 2004. | The USAF has 21 B-2 bombers based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, but several have been rotated through Guam since 2004. |
The craft have been used for missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. | The craft have been used for missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. |
Able to fly 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 kilometres) without refuelling, the B-2 can evade most radar signals making it difficult for defensive systems to detect, track and attack. | Able to fly 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 kilometres) without refuelling, the B-2 can evade most radar signals making it difficult for defensive systems to detect, track and attack. |