An Air Force accident investigation board has decided that pilot error led to the crash of a B-1B bomber on May 8 at a forward deployed location. According to an Air Combat Command release, the pilot and co-pilot each thought the other had lowered the bomber’s landing gear. The board also cited the “task oversaturation” of the copilot and his “urgency” to finish a long mission. The board noted, too, that the pilot “unexpectedly” turned over control to the copilot for final approach. Of the four crewmembers, only the copilot suffered injury—a minor back injury—but the bomber sustained $7.9 million worth of damage.
The Air Force will finish restructuring the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program by the end of this year, achieve its first test launch of the ICBM by 2027, and reach initial operational capability by the early 2030s.
