
2008 Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident
2008-andersen-air-force-base-b-2-accident-1752877068001-d4e152
Description
On 23 February 2008, Spirit of Kansas, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber of the United States Air Force, crashed on the runway moments after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The aircraft was destroyed, but both crew members successfully ejected. The accident marked the first operational loss of a B‑2 bomber, and as of 2024 remains one of two lost B-2s since another damaged B-2 had to be retired due to repair costs after an on-board fire. With an estimated loss of US$1.4 billion, considering only the cost of the aircraft, it was also the most expensive aircraft crash in history.