A B-1 Lancer super-bomber crashed during a training mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota on Thursday evening, and all four crew members had to eject, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement. Based on USA Today.
Photograph: Peter Rift/AFP (illustration)
The heavy bomber crashed at 17:50 local time while trying to land at the military facility at the end of the exercise. Four people were on board the 28th Bombardment Squadron plane based at Ellsworth, and after being ejected they all landed safely. According to the squadron's statement, a committee of officers will investigate the incident. The US Air Force did not release any other details about the incident.
The AB-1 Lancer is a long-range, multi-role, supersonic conventional bomber. It has been in service with the Air Force since the 1980s. The United States ended nuclear missions for bombers in 1994.
The AB-1 has been deployed almost continuously since 2001, including during military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
– It was revealed in a Boeing Defense, Space and Security announcement.
Although one hundred B-1 Lancers were originally built, fewer than 60 remain in military service today at Dyess Air Force Base and Ellsworth Air Force Base in Texas.
