---
title: "B-1B Bomber Crashes In South Dakota"
date: "2024-01-04"
modified: "2024-01-04"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/b-1b-crashes-at-ellsworth-afb-in-south-dakota"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Air Forces"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "B-1"
  - "Bombers"
  - "News & Features"
  - "U.S. Air Force"
  - "U.S. Homeland"
tags:
  - "bomb"
  - "Crash"
---

# B-1B Bomber Crashes In South Dakota

![B-1B Ellsworth mishap](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05/Ellsworth-B1.jpg>)
*U.S. Air Force Video by Airman Adam Olson (video frame)*

Details are extremely limited at this time, but there has been a major incident at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. A B-1B crashed while attempting to land at the base this evening, with all crew ejecting safely. Ellsworth is one of two master bases that house the B-1B 'Bone' bomber fleet.

The statement from the public affairs office for the 28th Bomb Wing, the main unit at Ellsworth, reads:

"*An Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base crashed at approximately 5:50 p.m. today while attempting to land on the installation. At the time of the accident, it was on a training mission. There were four aircrew on board. All four ejected safely.*

*A board of officers will investigate the accident.*

*Additional details will be provided as they become available. For questions regarding this incident, contact the 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at (605) 385-5056, or by e-mail at 28bw.public.affairs@us.af.mil.*"

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05/ellsworth-b-1-crash-statement-facebook.jpg>)
**Ellsworth AFB via Facebook**

Word began to [circulate on social media](<https://www.facebook.com/AFamnncosnco/posts/698052455789700?ref=embed_post>) and local news that some sort of incident was occurring at the base, with some accounts claiming a B-1B had crashed there. The base was subsequently closed down to air traffic. Weather at the base is currently poor, with dense freezing fog present.

https://twitter.com/thenewarea51/status/1743106318058029464?s=20

The B-1B force has been [downsized from 62 to 45 airframes](<https://www.twz.com/42508/the-last-of-the-17-b-1b-bombers-slated-for-early-retirement-has-arrived-at-the-boneyard.md>) in recent years in order to distribute funds to other priorities and to keep the remaining jets in better flying order. Flight envelope restrictions have [also been put on the fleet](<https://www.twz.com/32213/b-1b-loses-low-level-mission-annual-flight-hours-capped-heres-how-it-got-to-this-point.md>) to extend the lives of the swing-wing jets as efficiently as possible until their replacement, the [B-21 Raide](<https://www.twz.com/b-21-raiders-first-flight-what-we-learned.md>)r, is online in significant numbers. Still, the B-1s are receiving additional upgrades in the [form of new avionics](<https://www.twz.com/26303/there-is-a-b-1b-bomber-with-a-red-colored-custom-cockpit.md>) and weapons, which [could include hypersonic cruise missiles](<https://www.twz.com/b-1-bone-bombers-taking-over-hypersonic-testing-from-b-52s.md>).

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05/B1.jpg>)
*An Ellsworth B-1B flying off a tanker's wing. *U.S. Air National Guard photo by Mr. Ken Stephens**

The B-1Bs have suffered a number of mishaps in recent years, especially in [regard to incidents](<https://www.twz.com/40209/a-b-1b-bomber-suffered-significant-engine-damage-while-deployed-to-norway.md>) of [engine fire.](<https://www.twz.com/b-1-bombers-engine-burst-into-flames-at-dyess-air-force-base.md>)

We will update this post with more information as it becomes available.

*Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

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