B-1Bs Begin Return to Ellsworth AFB Following Airstrikes

The long-range bombers had temporarily been relocated to another air base after a crash investigation shut down the runway.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, February 07, 2024 at 03:47 PM ET

Verified

A B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, takes off from the runway at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, on February 1. Ellsworth B-1Bs recently launched from Dyess Air Force Base to conduct precision, long-range strikes in Iraq and Syria. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Ellsworth Air Force Base's runway has resumed operations one month after a B-1B Lancer bomber crashed on the airfield while landing on January 4.
All four aircrew ejected safely from the crashed B-1B, and the wreckage has since been cleared from the runway.
An undisclosed number of B-1Bs and personnel were temporarily relocated to Dyess AFB, validating the weapon system's mission capability.
B-1Bs, including those relocated from Ellsworth, were deployed from Dyess AFB on February 1 to conduct retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The runway at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, has resumed operations one month after a B-1B Lancer heavy bomber crashed on the airfield while landing, according to a report.

Runway operations were shuttered after the January 4 mishap that occurred as an Air Force B-1B flying as part of a formation crashed during the landing phase. All four aircrew on board the bomber ejected safely. The runway was temporarily reopened January 25 to move “several” B-1Bs assigned to the base to Dyess AFB near Abilene, Texas.