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An extensive investigation by the U.S. Air Force determined the cause was not pilot error or enemy interference, but a highly specific technical issue. Moisture had entered the aircraft’s air data sensors, which feed critical information—such as airspeed and angle of attack—into the flight control computers. The corrupted data caused the system to miscalculate performance parameters during takeoff. As a result, the aircraft rotated prematurely, stalled, and crashed moments later. The bomber, valued at approximately $1.4 billion, was deemed a total loss. No evidence of sabotage, attack, or external interference was ever found.
A second incident occurred on September 14, 2021, at Whiteman Air Force Base, the primary operating base for the B-2 fleet. During landing, another B-2 sustained damage and was removed from service pending investigation. While details were limited due to operational security, officials confirmed that the incident was unrelated to combat and involved no hostile activity. Once again, speculation online filled the information gap, but no credible military or intelligence source supported claims of enemy engagement.
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