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NDTV
04-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
B-2 Mystery After Iran Strikes: Where Is The US Stealth Bomber
New Delhi: A US Air Force bombing operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities has taken an unexpected turn. One group of the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers involved has reportedly not returned to base, raising questions about its whereabouts. The US deployed two separate groups of B-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 21. One formation flew westward over the Pacific — reportedly to mislead Iranian defences — while the second formation, consisting of seven B-2s, headed east to strike Tehran's underground nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, according to a EurAsian Times report published on June 27. The strike team completed its mission and returned to base after a non-stop 37-hour round trip. But little is known about the decoy team that flew towards the Pacific. What has emerged, however, is that at least one aircraft from that group was forced to make an emergency landing in Hawaii. The stealth bomber in question reportedly touched down at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which shares runways with Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu. A video of the aircraft surfaced online, adding to the mystery surrounding its condition and the exact reason for its diversion and landing. B2 Stealth bomber sitting alone and guarded in Honolulu International. Just captured this on the taxi out. No reports online of a B2 here. This is the closest I've been to one. @grok says: There are no reports of a B-2 stealth bomber currently stationed or 'sitting' at Daniel… — David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin) June 24, 2025 No details have been released regarding the nature of the emergency or how long the stealth bomber might remain grounded. This incident is not isolated. B-2 bombers have made unplanned landings in Hawaii before as well. In April 2023, a similar emergency landing occurred at Hickam, prompting the temporary grounding of the entire B-2 fleet after a separate crash in Missouri in late 2022. The aircraft involved in the April incident remained in Hawaii for weeks before being cleared. Another B-2 had to be transported to Northrop Grumman's facility in Palmdale, California, for repairs in 2021 following a similar incident. But the most severe B-2 mishap occurred in 2008, when the 'Spirit of Kansas' crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The aircraft was destroyed, though both crew members ejected safely. The B-2 Spirit bombers, a key part of the US nuclear deterrent strategy, are known for their cutting-edge stealth technology and flexible mission capabilities.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
US' B-2 bombers are ageing and complex to maintain - the untold story of one of the world's deadliest jets
B-2 stealth bomber used as Iran strike decoy stuck in Hawaii after emergency landing- A B-2 stealth bomber, part of a carefully orchestrated decoy mission related to the U.S. strike on Iran, is currently grounded in Honolulu, Hawaii after an emergency diversion. The aircraft, flying under the callsign MYTEE 14, was one of the few B-2 Spirits deployed as part of a deceptive maneuver aimed at misleading open-source intelligence watchers. Instead of heading east towards Iran like the real strike force, this bomber flew west over the Pacific, along with a string of tanker aircraft, to suggest a much larger deployment in that direction. However, the complex and maintenance-heavy B-2 didn't make it far — it had to land at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on June 21, 2025, and is still there today. What happened to MYTEE 14 during the Iran strike? On June 21, 2025, a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber with the callsign MYTEE 14 was deployed in a decoy mission as part of a broader strike plan against Iran. The aircraft departed from Whiteman Air Force Base and headed west across the Pacific Ocean. This maneuver was meant to mislead open-source trackers and observers into thinking the strike was coming from the west. Meanwhile, the actual strike force was moving east over Europe toward Iran, effectively using MYTEE 14 as a strategic distraction. However, the mission took a turn when the bomber experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight, prompting an emergency landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Can't Believe She Wore That To The Red Carpet Golfhooked Read More Undo Why was the B-2 used as a decoy? The U.S. military has increasingly relied on deception tactics to outmaneuver open-source intelligence (OSINT) that monitors flight paths and tanker movements. In this case, MYTEE 14's westward flight acted as a red herring, drawing attention away from the true direction of the strike package. This kind of misdirection highlights America's ability to leverage strategic airpower not just through force, but through sophisticated planning and psychological operations. Live Events How serious is the technical failure? The B-2 is an extremely complex aircraft, with stealth technology that requires specialized maintenance crews and parts. With just 19 operational B-2 bombers remaining in the U.S. fleet, any emergency landing outside a designated B-2 base is a logistical headache. As of now, MYTEE 14 remains grounded in Hawaii. The repair timeline is uncertain—it could take weeks or even months, depending on the severity of the malfunction and the availability of parts and personnel. What does this reveal about the aging B-2 fleet? The B-2 Spirit fleet was first introduced in the 1990s, and while still considered one of the most advanced long-range bombers in the world, it's showing signs of age-related vulnerability. Mechanical issues like this aren't uncommon, especially when these bombers are deployed far from their home base. The fact that a high-profile decoy mission ended with a stranded aircraft raises concerns about operational reliability, particularly if multiple aircraft were to experience simultaneous issues during a major conflict. Can the U.S. still claim global air superiority? The success of the decoy mission proved the effectiveness of U.S. military deception and global strike coordination. The U.S. demonstrated it can conduct multi-directional operations with enough sophistication to fool international observers. However, the B-2's emergency landing underscores a bigger issue: logistical fragility and over-reliance on an aging platform. If more of the fleet begins to falter during long missions, it could erode the bomber's reliability in future high-stakes scenarios. Why was the B-2 bomber flying west if Iran is in the east? This was a classic case of military misdirection, leveraging the power of the open-source intelligence (OSINT) community. As B-2 bombers were seen heading west across the Pacific, online aviation trackers and analysts assumed a major move toward the Indo-Pacific — possibly Guam. But according to sources and analysis by defense reporter Tyler Rogoway, this was a carefully designed feint operation. The real strike force reportedly went the opposite way — eastward over the Atlantic — to hit Iran. Only a small number of B-2s, possibly just two aircraft, took part in this deception. The operation also included refueling tankers, appearing to support a larger deployment than actually existed. It was a smart move, flipping the usual dynamic where OSINT poses risks for planners, and instead using it as a tool for confusion. How common are B-2 emergencies like this? This isn't the first time a B-2 Spirit has had to divert to Hawaii. In 2023, another stealth bomber ended up staying at Hickam for months after an emergency landing, just before the entire B-2 fleet was grounded for six months due to a crash during landing at Whiteman AFB. These incidents highlight the maintenance-intensive nature of the B-2 platform, a stealth aircraft that has been in service since the 1980s and is notoriously hard to keep airworthy. There are only 19 B-2s in operation today. That makes them low-density, high-value assets, and every diversion or maintenance issue carries significant operational implications. What is the Air Force saying about the B-2 in Hawaii? In a statement to The War Zone (TWZ), Charles Hoffman, Chief of Media Operations at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), declined to discuss the B-2 specifically, saying: 'We will not comment on movement, deployment or posturing of forces. Air Force Global Strike Command maintains the capability to provide global strike anywhere, at the time of the President of the United States' choosing. Our forces are always ready to work alone or fully integrate with our many allies and partners. We continue to work toward delivering the promise of peace through strength.' This response aligns with standard policy — the military rarely discusses specifics about stealth aircraft operations, especially in active or sensitive missions. What's next for the B-2 program as the B-21 Raider arrives? While the B-2 bomber remains vital, it's nearing the end of its service life. Its complex stealth coatings, custom systems, and outdated parts from the 1980s make it expensive and hard to maintain. However, recent upgrades to avionics, communications, and low-observable systems are aimed at keeping it relevant until the B-21 Raider is ready. The B-21, designed as the B-2's replacement, is expected to be produced in larger numbers and offer better survivability, lower operating costs, and modern stealth capabilities. Fortunately, the program appears to be on schedule and within budget, breaking the usual pattern of cost overruns in Pentagon procurement. As Tyler Rogoway wrote: 'B-2 was considered a disaster of a program. Poster child for Pentagon death spiral. Nobody would argue 30 years later it wasn't an absolutely pivotal investment.' Why does this matter for future U.S. air power? The B-2's role in the Iran strike decoy operation and its continued operational issues underscore both the value and the vulnerability of America's stealth bomber force. With only a handful left and no easy fixes, each jet grounded in a remote location like Hawaii becomes a strategic puzzle. The U.S. needs its stealth bombers to be reliable, especially as global threats evolve and near-peer adversaries like China and Russia improve their air defenses. The hope is that the B-21 Raider won't just replace the B-2 — it will redefine long-range stealth bombing for decades to come. FAQs: Q1: Why is a B-2 stealth bomber stuck in Hawaii? A: The B-2 MYTEE 14 made an emergency landing during a decoy Iran mission. Q2: What was the B-2 bomber's role in the Iran strike? A: It acted as a decoy flying west to mislead open-source observers.
Roya News
27-06-2025
- Roya News
VIDEO: B-2 stealth bomber stranded in Hawaii after Iran decoy mission
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber deployed in a deception operation meant to distract observers from a real strike on Iran was forced to make an emergency landing in Hawaii. The incident occurred during a complex mission on June 21, in which several B-2 bombers were seen flying west over the Pacific Ocean, closely trailed by a formation of aerial refueling tankers. While public trackers believed the aircraft were en route to Guam, this western maneuver turned out to be a strategic misdirection, an effort designed to exploit open-source intelligence watchers and obscure the actual strike package heading eastward across the Atlantic. One of the B-2s involved in the feint, operating under the callsign MYTEE 14, diverted to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, which shares space with Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. The aircraft is still on the ground, as shown in a video posted by David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin), who captured the bomber parked on an apron with a security escort nearby. These unplanned diversions are not new for the B-2 fleet, which remains in service despite being costly, highly complex, and increasingly maintenance-intensive. In a similar case in 2023, another B-2 was stranded in Hawaii for an extended period following an emergency, which later coincided with a months-long grounding of the entire fleet after a crash at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. When asked about the bomber's diversion, Charles Hoffman, Chief of Media Operations for Air Force Global Strike Command, offered no specific details. 'We will not comment on movement, deployment or posturing of forces,' he stated. 'Air Force Global Strike Command maintains the capability to provide global strike anywhere, at the time of the President of the United States' choosing.' Currently, only 19 B-2s remain in active service, making them one of the US military's most limited and high-value platforms. Though infamously expensive and once criticized as a procurement disaster, the stealth bomber has since become a cornerstone of America's long-range strike capabilities. 'Nobody would argue 30 years later it wasn't an absolutely pivotal investment,' military analyst Tyler Rogoway wrote in a June 23 post. To extend the aircraft's viability, the Air Force has been upgrading the B-2 with modernized systems, cockpit enhancements, and efforts to reduce the operational costs of its sensitive radar-absorbent coatings. These upgrades aim to bridge the gap until the next-generation B-21 Raider becomes fully operational. The B-21, which is intended to eventually replace the B-2 fleet, is widely viewed as a critical program for the future of American airpower. Unlike its predecessor, the B-21 is reportedly on schedule and within budget, encouraging signs for a system expected to operate in larger numbers and with greater survivability in contested environments. As for the diverted B-2 in Honolulu, its current status remains unclear. Depending on the nature of the malfunction, repairs could take days, or much longer, due to the logistical challenges of servicing such a specialized aircraft so far from its home base.
The Star
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Hawaiian Airlines hit by cyber attack
FILE PHOTO: Hawaiian Airlines airplanes on the runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Marco Garcia/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hawaiian Airlines said on Thursday that some of its IT systems were disrupted by a hack, adding its flights were operating as scheduled. In a statement, Hawaiian Airlines said 'some of our IT systems' had been affected by a 'cybersecurity event.' The nature of the event was not disclosed, but that kind of language is typically used in cases of ransomware incidents, where digital extortionists paralyze a victim's computer network until a cryptocurrency ransom is paid. The airline, which is owned by Alaska Air Group, said it had 'taken steps to safeguard our operations, and our flights are operating safely and as scheduled.' Reuters could not immediately ascertain the extent of the disruption at Hawaiian, but a representative responded using a Gmail address when contacted to seek further details. The Federal Aviation Administration said its safety office responsible for airline oversight is in contact with Hawaiian Airlines. "There has been no impact on safety, and the airline continues to operate safely. We are monitoring the situation," the agency said in a statement. (Reporting by Raphael Satter and David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plane lands safely in Honolulu despite gear failure
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Transair aircraft experienced a landing gear collapse while landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Wednesday morning, according to state transportation officials. Traffic closures planned for King Kamehameha Day Parade The incident occurred around 9 a.m. when the Short SD3-60 aircraft landed on Runway 4R with five people on board. No injuries were a statement from the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting crews responded to the scene, and the aircraft is being removed from the runway. Flights have been redirected to Runway 8L, and there are no disruptions to airport operations. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
