Mystery Surrounds Missing B-2 Stealth Bomber After Iran Nuclear Strikes

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, part of a decoy group deployed during Operation Midnight Hammer targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025, has not returned to its base, raising questions about its whereabouts. The operation saw two groups of B-2s depart from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri: seven bombers flew east, striking Iran’s Fordo and Natanz nuclear sites with 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs in a 37-hour mission, while a decoy group flew west toward the Pacific to mislead Iranian defenses.

The strike team returned successfully, but at least one B-2 from the decoy group made an emergency landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which shares runways with Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii. A video of the aircraft surfaced online, fueling speculation, but no official details have been released about the emergency or the bomber’s status. Posts on X, including from @CNNnews18 and @InstaBharat, reflect public intrigue, with no confirmation of the aircraft’s condition or whether it remains grounded.

This incident echoes past B-2 mishaps: a 2023 emergency landing in Hawaii led to a temporary fleet grounding after a 2022 Missouri crash, and a 2021 incident required repairs in California. The most severe was the 2008 “Spirit of Kansas” crash in Guam, where the aircraft was destroyed, though the crew ejected safely. With only 19 B-2s in active U.S. inventory, each valued at over $2 billion, the fleet’s stealth and long-range capabilities are critical to U.S. strategy. The Pentagon has not commented, and the ongoing mystery underscores the challenges of maintaining these sophisticated aircraft during high-stakes missions.

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