2008 Andersen Air Force Base B-2 crash

Uncommon card · No. 189629

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 2026 remains one of two lost B-2s since another damaged B-2 had to be retired due to uneconomical repair costs after a landing gear collapsed on takeoff resulting in an on-board fire in 2022. 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.

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