US B-2 Spirit Stealth Nuclear Bomber Suffers Malfunction, Catches Fire After Emergency Landing

In a significant event impacting the Air Force's operational capability amid geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber caught fire at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri following an emergency landing.

"A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit experienced an in-flight malfunction during routine operations Dec. 10 and was damaged on the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base after it successfully completed an emergency landing," Master Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio, a spokesman for Whiteman's 509th Bomb Wing, told Military.com in a statement Monday.

"There were no personnel injuries. There was a fire associated with the aircraft after landing, and the base fire department extinguished the fire. The incident is under investigation," the spokesperson said, reported Air & Space Forces Magazine.

However, no details regarding the extent of damage suffered by the aircraft were revealed. The U.S. Air Force has launched a probe into the incident.

The news first appeared on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/anco.

Saturday's incident marks the second time in the last 15 months that a B-2 aircraft has suffered damage at Whiteman.

On Sept. 14 last year, the left main landing gear of a B-2 bomber collapsed, causing the aircraft's left wing to drag across the ground. The bomber skid off the runway and came to rest in the grass about a mile from the touchdown point. Although the pilots were uninjured, it cost the Air Force an estimated $10 million in damage.

Significantly, the Air Force has only 20 B-2 strategic bombers that form a critical part of the country's nuclear triad, with the air base at Whiteman in Missouri being its operational base.

Since the introduction of B-2s coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, questions were raised about the need for an expensive and heavy bomber.

However, with increasing geopolitical tensions with Russia, China and the Middle East, the need for stealth bomber aircraft capable of penetrating the advanced air defense networks is as high as ever.

The newly-unveiled B-21 Raider is set to replace the B-2s. However, the B-21 is still years from entering service, making the small fleet of B-2s critical for the Air Force as its only stealth strategic bombers.