In total, the crash inflicted $300 million worth of damage to the B-2 and nearly $30,000 in damage to the runway.
The 2022 incident that resulted in the retirement of a Whiteman Air Force Base B-2 stealth bomber may finally receive the closure it deserves. On December 10, 2022, the aircraft dubbed the “Spirit of Hawaii” from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman began experiencing issues upon approaching the runway. At the time, the pilot detailed that the right landing gear system failed, leading to a quick loss of hydraulic fluid. Next, the backup system, which automatically turned on, began losing fluid and pressure as well. Ultimately, the pilot had to carry out an emergency landing gear extension to lower the right landing gear. The bomber’s left landing gear failed to function properly, causing the aircraft to tip to a point where its wingtip became shredded and a fire ensued. In total, the crash inflicted $300 million worth of damage to the B-2 and nearly $30,000 in damage to the runway.
This week, Air Force Global Strike Command released the final report of an Accident Investigation Board that reviewed the incident. The report detailed that a hydraulic system failure caused the bomber’s landing gear to collapse, leading to its fiery crash landing. The report also identified a delay in applying aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, to fight the fire as another cause of the extensive damage to the bomber and runway. “The incident commander’s decision to not immediately use aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) allowed the fire to spread, causing further damage to the aircraft wing,” the report detailed.
An Overview of the B-2 platform
While the December 2022 incident led to the untimely retirement of the “Spirit of Hawaii,” the remaining B-2s continue to represent one of the most lethal arms of the Air Force’s fleet. The Northrop-designed heavy strategic bomber has served for nearly three decades and remains a go-to bomber platform for the Air Force. In June, B-2 bombers notably played a primary role in the high-stakes air campaign waged against the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.
The highly respected bomber platform was conceptualized during the Cold War. When the concept known as “stealth” began to grow around the 1970s, US engineers began to work on implementing then-emerging technologies that would allow an aircraft to deflect or absorb radar signals. Under the codename “Aurora,” the Advanced Technology Program was established, leading to the development of the B-2 Spirit.
Perhaps most recognizable about the B-2 is its flying-wing design. This futuristic layout provides the bomber with a level of stealth that makes it nearly invisible to adversarial radar. In addition to its stealth, the B-2 is known for its armament-lugging capabilities. Specifically, the Spirit can carry up to 40,000 pounds of weaponry within two separate weapons bays positioned in the center of the aircraft. This formidable strategic bomber can carry both conventional and nuclear weaponry, as well as a litany of other munitions.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.
