CANBERRA (AFP) — A B-2 stealth bomber crashed early Saturday on takeoff from the Pacific island of Guam, but its crew members ejected and survived, the US military said in a statement.
The crash would be the first for the B-2, a 1.2 billion dollar radar evading long range bomber that first saw combat in the 1999 air war over Kosovo.
Authorities were investigating the incident.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, here with visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, said the plane crashed on take-off from Andersen Air Force Base.
"Two pilots from the 509th Bomb Wing were on board and ejected. They have been evaluated by medical authorities and are in good condition," the US air force said in a statement.
"Emergency responders are on scene. A board of officers will investigate the accident," said the headquarters of the US air force in the Pacific.
A US fighter pilot was killed Wednesday after two F-15C jets collided during a training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico.
The bomber, which is based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, is one of only 21 in the air force's inventory.
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