US stealth bomber destroyed in crash soon after takeoff
Saturday, 23 Feb 2008 08:49
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A stealth bomber owned by the US airforce has been destroyed in an accident on the US territory of Guam.
The B-52 jet, which costs over $1.2 billion (£610 million) to manufacture, crashed soon after taking off from the Anderson Air Force Base on the island. Both pilots managed to eject from the aircraft in time.
A spokesperson for the US airforce said this was the first such incident involving a B-52, adding that an investigation would be launched into the crash.
The representative said: "Two pilots from the 509th Bomb Wing were on board and ejected. They have been evaluated by medical authorities and are in good condition.
"Emergency responders are on scene. A board of officers will investigate the accident."
B-52 jets are designed to avoid detection by radar and have a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles. The aircraft has been used in conflicts such as Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the US military.