According to a statement released by the air base, the crash occurred at around 5:50 p.m. local time. The plane was trying to land on a crew training mission at that time. Ellsworth Air Force Base said the four crew members of the bomber were safe after successfully exiting the plane. The bomber reportedly exploded after falling. Unverified emergency transmissions shared on social media described officials working to control an active fire at the scene.
The B-1B Lancer is a jet-engine bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Associated Press reported that the weather during the incident was foggy and cold.
This accident is the second high-profile training accident carried out by the Air Force in less than three months. In late November, an Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan, killing the entire crew on board.
A USAF B-1B Bomber Crashes in South Dakota
