B-1 crash!!

[Werner]

Just in. a B-1 has exploded in Qatar whilst attempting an emergency landing there.

The plane exploded as it landed at al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar-based al-Jazeera television reported.

The cause of the incident is as yet unknown, a US defence official told Reuters new agency. No information on casualties was immediately available.

The base is used by the US as the headquarters for its air operations in the Middle East.

Hopefully the crew escaped, but our tax dollars and capability sure didn't!

[chuck]

8 out of the 104 B-1A and B-1B airframes built have crashed thus far, which is not bad for a high performance aircraft designed to fly extremely treacherous flight plans. There is also a substantial reservoir of spare B-1B that could be brought up to date resupply depleted operational units.

[Werner]

Yes, I have seen the shrink-wrapped beauties in Tucson.

I wonder what they do about all the mercury in the ballast system in an incident involving one of these. I mean, it's quite a panic if your kid breaks a thermometer.

[Cadman]

Latest word is the crew made it out OK. Possible hydraulic fire.

[ScottOram]

Here is the link to the "official" release from the 379th here at Al Udeid: http://www.379aew.afnews.af.mil/news/st ... =123093139

All I can says is umm..

Deployed:

AME1(AW) Scott D. Oram, USN
ALSS Branch Supervisor
PATROL SQUADRON TWO-SIX
Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar