The Air Force has confirmed that a B-2 nuclear bomber caught fire after an emergency landing at the stealth aircraft's home base of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Saturday. "A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit experienced an in-flight malfunction during routine operations today and was damaged on the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base after it successfully completed an emergency landing," the Air Force said in a statement to The Drive. "There were no personnel injuries. There was a fire associated with the aircraft after landing, and the base fire department extinguished the fire. The incident is under investigation." Social media posts suggested the aircraft went off the runway and may have had landing gear problems.
“Successfully completed an emergency landing.” That contradicts the headline, “B2 Damaged In Emergency Landing,” especially if the report of a gear problem, or running off the runway proves to be true.
500 Million dollars plus riding on one plane. Too big an Egg. The USAF should avoid putting some many dollars on a single plane. With the adversary they have today money will have to be spent wisely.
I generally understand “successful emergency landing” to mean the plane reached the runway under control and all occupants evacuated alive. It may or may not mean it stopped on the runway without damage.
I wouldn’t go 0% on Air Force. The generals may all be products of their environment, but they have responsibilities which I think they often dodge. It’s not like they couldn’t raise up and call BS on the procurement problems.