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The United States Air Force has released the findings of its investigation into the December 2022 incident involving a B-2 Spirit bomber. The report concluded that a hydraulic system failure led to the collapse of the aircraft's left main landing gear, causing it to skid off the runway and catch fire. No injuries were reported.
The incident occurred on December 10, 2022, when a B-2A bomber with tail number 90-0041 from the 509th Bomb Wing was returning to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri after serving as a backup for a mission to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The flight proceeded without issue until final approach. Upon lowering the landing gear, the crew received warnings about hydraulic leaks. While two landing gears extended normally, the right main gear required emergency extension but ultimately locked in place along with the others.
According to the Air Force report, "the left main landing gear collapsed on touchdown." The aircraft then slid down the runway, dragging its left wing and rupturing a fuel surge tank. This caused a fire that spread to an outboard fuel tank and destroyed much of the left wing after both tanks exploded. The crew exited safely while firefighters responded to contain and extinguish the blaze.
