Agence France-Presse,
CANBERRA: The U.S. military was investigating on Feb. 23 after a B-2 stealth bomber crashed on take-off from the Pacific island of Guam, the first such incident involving the futuristic craft.
Both pilots on board ejected safely as the 1.2-billion-dollar radar-evading plane, with its distinctive triangular shape, went down at Andersen Air Force Base on the remote island, the U.S. air force 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,” it said.
“Emergency responders are on scene. A board of officers will investigate the accident,” said the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific.
It was the second U.S. Air Force crash this week after two F-15C jets collided during training over the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 20, killing a fighter pilot.
Crowds gathered at the crash site after the bomber, one of just 21 in the air force inventory, went down at about 10:45 a.m.
A thick plume of smoke rose over the airbase and officials closed one of its two runways, diverting planes to Guam International Airport, the Pacific Daily News Web site said.
“Everybody was on their cell phones and the first thing everyone wanted to know was did the pilots make it out in time,” said an eye-witness quoted by the Web site.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, here with visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, confirmed the crash but did not give further details.
“We are grateful for the safety of the pilots,” said Mike Cruz, acting governor of the U.S. territory.
“The Air Force and Guam have a long-standing relationship and we help each other in this community we share, especially during times like these.”
The long-range bomber was visiting from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Operated exclusively by the U.S., the B-2 has never crashed since first seeing combat in the air war over Kosovo in 1999.
The 172-foot-wide stealth bomber, which can carry nuclear as well as conventional weapons, has also been used in U.S. campaigns over Iraq and Afghanistan.
It emits minimal exhaust, noise and heat, making it hard to detect by radar or infrared.
Guam, in the northwest Pacific, and neighboring U.S. territories including the Northern Mariana Islands are considered by Washington as strategic locations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Guam, population 170,000, is home to one of the largest U.S. military naval bases in the region and 8,000 marines will soon be relocated there from Japan.
The U.S. and Japan are spending $15 billion on the relocation of the marines from Japan, which is expected to further boost Washington's military strength in the Asia-Pacific.
