link B-52 mistakenly carried 6 nuclear warheads on U.S. flight By PAULINE JELINEK Associated Press WASHINGTON — A B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear warheads and flown for more than three hours across several states last week, prompting an Air Force investigation and the firing of one commander, Pentagon officials said today. Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, called the mishandling of the weapons "deeply disturbing" and said the committee would press the military for details. The plane was carrying Advanced Cruise Missiles from Minot Air Force Base, N.D, to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on Aug. 30, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a Defense Department policy not to confirm information on nuclear weapons. The missiles, which are being decommissioned, were mounted onto pylons on the bomber's wings and it is unclear why the warheads had not been removed beforehand. The Air Combat Command has ordered a command-wide standdown on Sept. 14 to review procedures, officials said. They said there was minimal risk to crews and the public because of safety features designed into the munitions. In addition to the munitions squadron commander who was relieved of his duties, crews involved with the mistaken load — including ground crew workers — have been temporarily decertified for handling munitions, one official said. The investigation is expected to take several weeks. The incident was first reported in Military Times newspaper. "There is no more serious issue than the security and proper handling of nuclear weapons," Skelton said in a statement today. "The American people, our friends, and our potential adversaries must be confident that the highest standards are in place when it comes to our nuclear arsenal." Skelton, D-Mo., said his committee will pursue answers on the classified matter "to ensure that the Air Force and the Department of Defense address this particular incident and strengthen controls more generally."
Hey, it happens. I left mine in my car once.....got almost all the way to the airport, and had to turn around and go back home to unload it. Sheesh.........
wow thats terrible negligence on somebody's part. imagine if something had happened to the plane. looks like one person got the boot already poor guy imagine him trying to get another job so lets see here you were let go from your last job because you allowed 6 nukes to be flown on a B52 on accident. yeah dont worry we'll call you
What I REALLY hate is when I put a nuclear warhead on the roof of my car when I'm getting in, and forget that it's up there and it flies off as I'm going down the street.
Oh man.....been there, done that. Warheads and coffee cups....I can't tell you how many of those I have lost that way.
I hate when I pull up in the drive through, and my warhead falls under my seat and I have to get out of the car and look under the seat while I'm at the windo
Just for the record, nuclear warheads don't detonate on contact and they can't accidentally go off when dropped. They require simultanious (within at least a millasecond) detonation of several shaped charges surrounding the primary radioactive element. I appreciate why this is upsetting, but I don't think it is as dangerous as it might seem.
Nah, this is intentional. Sort of an answer to the Russian bomber that was patrolling in the Atlantic.
To me, this just makes no sense. How could the U.S. military accidentally take off with such lethal ordnance? With all the meticulous routine checks that I assume go with having six nukes on board, it almost makes me feel like they're trying to cover-up something.
