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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| US B-52 'in nuclear cargo error' | US B-52 'in nuclear cargo error' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A B-52 bomber flew across the US last week mistakenly loaded with five nuclear-armed missiles, unnamed air force officials are quoted as saying. | |
| The missiles were unaccounted for during a three-hour flight from a North Dakota air base to one in Louisiana. | The missiles were unaccounted for during a three-hour flight from a North Dakota air base to one in Louisiana. |
| Air Force spokesman Lt-Col Ed Thomas told Army Times the cruise missiles were "always in our custody". | |
| Army Times said the missiles were to be decommissioned but were mistakenly mounted on the bomber's wings. | Army Times said the missiles were to be decommissioned but were mistakenly mounted on the bomber's wings. |
| The W80-1 warhead has a yield of five to 150 kilotons, the paper said. | The W80-1 warhead has a yield of five to 150 kilotons, the paper said. |
| 'Decertified' | 'Decertified' |
| A military official told AFP news agency that President George W Bush had been informed of the mix-up. | A military official told AFP news agency that President George W Bush had been informed of the mix-up. |
| "There are procedures in place and they kicked in and worked," the official said. | "There are procedures in place and they kicked in and worked," the official said. |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says experts have made it clear that if the plane had crashed there would not have been a nuclear explosion but there could have been a threat from plutonium leakage. | The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says experts have made it clear that if the plane had crashed there would not have been a nuclear explosion but there could have been a threat from plutonium leakage. |
| The flight was reportedly on 30 August from the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to the Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City in Louisiana. | The flight was reportedly on 30 August from the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to the Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City in Louisiana. |
| Col Thomas told Army Times: "Air Force standards are very exacting when it comes to munitions handling. | Col Thomas told Army Times: "Air Force standards are very exacting when it comes to munitions handling. |
| "The weapons were always in our custody and there was never a danger to the American public." | "The weapons were always in our custody and there was never a danger to the American public." |
| Col Thomas said the loading crew involved had been temporarily "decertified" pending retraining and an investigation had been launched. | Col Thomas said the loading crew involved had been temporarily "decertified" pending retraining and an investigation had been launched. |
| A full US military statement is expected soon. | A full US military statement is expected soon. |