A US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber crashed while trying to land at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota due to adverse weather conditions.
The warplane was part of a training mission in the region when it encountered difficulty landing because of poor visibility, low clouds, and freezing temperatures.
Radio messages from the South Dakota Highway Patrol described an active fire and explosion at the scene.
All four crewmembers were able to eject safely.
The B-1B Lancer bombers have been in active service with the Air Force since the 1980s. Around 60, spread between the force’s Texas and South Dakota bases, are still in commission.
Per Rapid City, South Dakota EMS via Broadcastify, details are still unknown. pic.twitter.com/G2qPSZXK0k
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) January 5, 2024
A Versatile Capability
Costing around $317 million each, the B-1B Lancer serves as the backbone of the Air Force’s long-range bomber units.
It utilizes aft wing sweep capabilities for tight maneuvers in high subsonic and supersonic flights, allowing it to be integrated fairly easily with joint and composite strike forces.
Aside from its ability to sustain speeds exceeding 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) per hour, it is also capable of handling up to 74,000 pounds (33,566 kilograms) of payload.
The bombers have been used in combat, seeing action in Iraq during Operation Desert Fox in 1998.
