On 23 February 2008, a B‑2 crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The crash of the
Spirit of Kansas,
89-0127, which had been operated by the
393rd Bomb Squadron,
509th Bomb Wing,
Whiteman Air Force Base,
Missouri, and had logged 5,100 flight hours, was the first crash of a B‑2. The two-officer crew (Major Ryan Link and Captain Justin Grieve) were unable to control the bomber, and as one of its wingtips made contact with the ground, they ejected and survived the crash. The aircraft was destroyed, a
total loss estimated at US$1.4 billion, equivalent to around $ in . According to the
Air Force Times, a private-industry magazine, no munitions were on board. The Air Combat Command accident board report states that "classified material" had been loaded onto the bomber the morning the aircraft was returning to Whiteman Air Force Base "after a four-month deployment in support of
Pacific Air Forces' continuous bomber presence." The commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Brig. Gen.
Garrett Harencak temporarily suspended flying operations for all 20 remaining B‑2s to review procedures. Harencak termed the suspension a "safety pause" and stated that the B‑2s would resume flying if called upon for immediate operations. The B‑2 fleet returned to flight status on 15 April 2008. == Investigation ==