An aircraft from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota crashed during a training mission on Thursday evening, with all four crew members successfully ejecting, the Air Force announced.
The bomber went down around 5:50 p.m. local time while attempting to land on the base. The 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth reported that all four aircrew members aboard the aircraft ejected safely. An investigation into the accident will be conducted by a board of officers, according to the 28th Bomb Wing.
The B-1 Lancer is a long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber that has been in service since the 1980s. The United States eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1 in 1994, and the aircraft has been primarily deployed in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. With fewer than 60 of the 100 originally built B-1s still in service at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the crash raises concerns about the future of the aging fleet.
The Air Force did not provide further details about the crash. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges faced by military personnel during training and operations. It also sparks discussions about the importance of ongoing maintenance and modernization of military equipment to ensure the safety of the crew and the success of missions.
In conclusion, the B-1 Lancer crash at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota during a training mission resulted in all four crew members ejecting safely. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by military personnel, and raises concerns about the aging B-1 fleet that continues to be deployed in combat operations.