Air Force Reports B-1B Down In South Dakota; Crew Safe

Mark Phelps

Thursday, January 04, 2024 at 11:29 PM ET

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File photo: USAF

Key Takeaways:

All four crew members of a B-1B Lancer bomber safely ejected after an accident during a routine training landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.
The incident involved an aircraft from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, which is one of only two bases globally to host the B-1B Lancer fleet.
The U.S. Air Force's B-1B fleet, currently numbering 45 aircraft, is scheduled for progressive replacement by the B-21 Raider after 2025.

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Early reports out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota indicate all four members of the crew of a B1-B Lancer bomber are safe after ejecting from the aircraft. The accident occurred about 5:50 p.m. local time today (Jan. 4) as the aircraft was attempting to land at Ellsworth as part of a routine training mission, according to a statement from the base’s public affairs office.

According to news reports, Ellsworth is home to the U.S. Air Force 28^th Bomb Wing, which includes 27 B-1B Lancers. The base is one of only two worldwide that hosts the B-1B. As of 2021, the Air Force counted its B-1B fleet at 45 of the swept-wing, supersonic aircraft. They are scheduled to be progressively replaced after 2025 by the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider.