Michael Hoffman of the Military Times as well as the Associated Press reported that six nuclear-armed Advanced Cruise Missiles were mistakenly flown on a B-52H bomber from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on August 30.
How does a United States Air Force pilot trained in nuclear warfare take off armed with six nuclear warheads? It is unclear as to why the warheads had not been removed but I find it hard to believe that the pilot did not notice a weight difference when flying the plane. The warheads alone weigh 150 kilotons each and I would think the weight alone should have told everyone this plane was much heavier than the other planes.
More importantly, of course, is the issue of the safety of the United States and harm that could have come from such an inexcusable mistake.
Hans M. Kristensen, in his own blog, makes note of several ways in which the Department of Defense and Department of Energy manage the thousands of nuclear weapons in the U.S. Nuclear Stockpile.
Missiles are designed to only detonate if purposely detonated and are hopefully encased appropriately. Regardless, if this plane had crashed, I am weary of the fact that the missiles would not detonate and it is not something that should never be put to the test, even by mistake. Mistakes often happen and fortunately nothing came of it but it is the responsibility of commanders and officials to make sure mistakes like this never happen again.
I felt that Pentagon officials handled the situation rapidly and appropriately with the firing of the munitions squadron commander as well as the temporary decertification of crews involved with the mistaken load.
Officials cannot prevent every mistake from happening and protect the United States completely, but when mistakes such as these happen they can act accordingly for the interest of our country.
How does a United States Air Force pilot trained in nuclear warfare take off armed with six nuclear warheads? It is unclear as to why the warheads had not been removed but I find it hard to believe that the pilot did not notice a weight difference when flying the plane. The warheads alone weigh 150 kilotons each and I would think the weight alone should have told everyone this plane was much heavier than the other planes.
More importantly, of course, is the issue of the safety of the United States and harm that could have come from such an inexcusable mistake.
Hans M. Kristensen, in his own blog, makes note of several ways in which the Department of Defense and Department of Energy manage the thousands of nuclear weapons in the U.S. Nuclear Stockpile.
Missiles are designed to only detonate if purposely detonated and are hopefully encased appropriately. Regardless, if this plane had crashed, I am weary of the fact that the missiles would not detonate and it is not something that should never be put to the test, even by mistake. Mistakes often happen and fortunately nothing came of it but it is the responsibility of commanders and officials to make sure mistakes like this never happen again.
I felt that Pentagon officials handled the situation rapidly and appropriately with the firing of the munitions squadron commander as well as the temporary decertification of crews involved with the mistaken load.
Officials cannot prevent every mistake from happening and protect the United States completely, but when mistakes such as these happen they can act accordingly for the interest of our country.
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