B-1 Lancer Bomber Crashes at Air Force Base During Training Mission

All Four Crew Members Eject Safely Amid Poor Visibility; Incident Raises Further Safety Concerns

A B-1 Lancer bomber from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota crashed during a training mission on Thursday, with all four crew members ejecting safely.
The crash occurred while the bomber was attempting to land on the base at around 5:50 p.m., under poor visibility conditions due to freezing temperatures and low clouds.
The B-1 Lancer bomber, which first came into service in the 1980s, has been used to support the U.S. bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region and to conduct close air support missions in U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
Ellsworth Air Force Base has been the site of several mishaps involving B-1 Lancer bombers since their introduction in 1987, raising questions about the bomber’s structural integrity and maintenance procedures.
Despite the accidents and safety concerns, the B-1 Lancer continues to play a significant role in the U.S. military’s operations, but these incidents highlight the need for a comprehensive review of the bomber’s safety protocols and maintenance procedures.