Runway of Whiteman AFB damaged during emergency landing of B-2

A B-2 stealth bomber had an in-flight malfunction on Dec. 10 and the aircraft made an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base.

Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During the landing, the runway of the base was damaged and a fire broke out, which was extinguished by Whiteman’s fire department.

No one was injured in the accident.

Whiteman Air Force Base is located in western Missouri, near the city of Knob Noster. The base is home to the 509th Bomb Wing, which operates the B-2 stealth bomber.

According to a NOTAM, or “Notice to Airmen,” published on Dec. 9 at 2300 hrs, the base’s sole runway 01/19 was closed from that time the NOTAM was published till Dec. 16, 2359 hrs.

NOTAM M1343/22: Whiteman Air Force Base (KSZL)

M1343/22 NOTAMN
Q) ZKC/QXXXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/3843N09332W005 A) KSZL B) 2212102301 C) 2212162359
E) RUNWAY 01/19 CLOSED
CREATED: 10 Dec 2022 23:01:00
SOURCE: KSZL

NOTAMs are notices issued by the aviation authorities to alert pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a specific airport. NOTAMs are typically issued for temporary hazards or changes to a flight area, such as temporary flight restrictions, runway closures, or changes in navigation aids. They are important for pilots to be aware of in order to ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft.

Whiteman Air Force Base was established in 1942. The base was named after 2nd Lt. George Allison Whiteman, who was the first person to die in a B-17 Flying Fortress crash. Originally, the base was used as a training facility for bomber crews during World War II. In the 1950s, it was converted to a Strategic Air Command base, and later became the home of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Today, the base continues to play a vital role in the U.S. Air Force’s long-range strike capabilities.

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