USAF's B-2 fleet grounded after $2bn jet caught fire on emergency landing
The US Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers after one of the $2bn jets caught fire during an emergency landing.
A bomber experienced an in-flight malfunction and then caught fire during an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where the fleet is based.
The aircraft cost $2bn each and the USAF has 20 of the stealth fighter jets, which are all capable of deploying nuclear bombs.
Military officials grounded the fleet so each plane can be checked over, although there is no timeline on when the B-2s will fly again.
The malfunction happened during a routine operation and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing on 10 December.
A fire on board was extinguished and no personnel were injured in the incident.
An official investigation is under way and further details will be released when it is complete.
The Whiteman Air Force Base runway remains closed, and recovery teams are working around the clock to minimize further disruptions.
Due to the incident, the air force base will nort be participating in the 2023 Rose Parade or Rose Bowl Game flyovers.
Instead, B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, will carry on the tradition.
Colonel Daniel Diehl, 509th Bomb Wing commander, US Air Force, said: "Our number one concern is the safety and security of our personnel and fleet."
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