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May 12, 2023 · The most well-known broken arrow occurred on January 17, 1966, near Palomares, Spain. A U.S. B-52 aircraft carrying four nuclear weapons collided with its refueling tanker, a KC-135, at 31,000 ...
- Marcia Wendorf
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Date: February 13, 1950 The B-36 was en route from Eielson AFB to Carswell AFB on a simulated combat profile mission. The weapon aboard the aircraft had a dummy capsule installed. After six hours of flight, the aircraft developed serious mechanical difficulties, making it necessary to shut down three engines. The aircraft was at 12,000 feet altitud...
Date: June 7, 1960 Location: McGuire AFB, New Jersey A BOMARC air defense missile in ready storage condition permitting launch in two minutes) was destroyed by explosion and fire after a high-pressure helium tank exploded and ruptured the missile's fuel tanks. The warhead was also destroyed by the fire although the high explosive did not detonate. ...
Date: April 12, 1970 Location: Atlantic Ocean A Soviet "November"-class nuclear-powered attack submarine experienced an apparent nuclear propulsion problem in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 miles northwest of Spain. Although an attempt to attach a tow line from a Soviet bloc merchant ship; the submarine apparently sank, killing 52. Date: November 22,...
Date: September 19, 1980 Location: Damascus. Arkansas During routine maintenance in a Titan II silo, an Air Force repairman dropped a heavy wrench socket, which rolled off a work platform and fell toward the bottom of the silo. The socket bounced and struck the missile, causing a leak from a pressurized fuel tank. The missile complex and the surrou...
Date: September 27, 1991 Location: White Sea A missile launch malfunction occurred during a test launch on a "Typhoon"-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Date: March 20, 1993 Location: Barents Sea The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Grayling collided with a Russian Delta III nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Both vessels r...
Date: August 12, 2000 Location: Barents Sea The CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) "Oscar II" class submarine, Kursk, sinks after a massive onboard explosion. Attempts to rescue the 118 men fail. It is thought that a torpedo failure caused the accident. Radiation levels are normal and the submarine had no nuclear weapons on board. Sources: U....
A B-36 ferrying a nuclear weapon from Biggs AFB to Kirtland AFB dropped a nuclear weapon on approach to Kirtland. The weapon struck the ground 4.5 miles south of the Kirtland control tower and 0.3 miles west of the Sandia Base reservation. The weapon was completely destroyed by the detonation of its high explosive material, creating a crater 12 ...
DateLocationTypeDescriptionFebruary 13, 1950British ColumbiaLoss of nuclear bomb/non-nuclear ...Main article: 1950 British Columbia B-36 ...April 11, 1950Loss and recovery of nuclear materialsThree minutes after departure from ...July 13, 1950Lebanon, Ohio, USNon-nuclear detonation of an atomic bombA USAF B-50 aircraft on a training ...August 5, 1950Fairfield-Suisun AFB, California, USNon-nuclear detonation of an atomic bombMain article: 1950 Fairfield-Suisun ...People also ask
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May 6, 2024 · Context. In the tumultuous landscape of the Cold War era, six events stand as stark reminders of the risks inherent in the management of nuclear weapons. These accidents, collectively known as Broken Arrow, offer valuable lessons and insights into the complexities of nuclear safety and security. It is worth noting that the documented Broken ...
Seizure, theft, or loss of a nuclear weapon. Accidental or unauthorized launching, firing, or use of a nuclear-capable weapon system. Public hazard, actual or implied. These are the kinds of ...
- American Experience
May 22, 2012 · Of the two weapons that went through the ice sheet, one was finally recovered in 1979, but an as-yet-unrecovered broken arrow still lies on the floor of Baffin Bay. 9. September 19, 1980: Damascus ...
Monday, June 20, 2016. The U.S. military uses the term “Broken Arrow” to refer to an accident that involves nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons components, but does not create the risk of nuclear war. A Broken Arrow is different from a “Nucflash,” which refers to a possible nuclear detonation or other serious incident that may lead to war.
