Skelton alarmed by flight with warheads

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The chair of a key U.S. congressional panel Wednesday characterized as "deeply disturbing" the flight of a B-52 bomber loaded with five nuclear warheads.

"There is no more serious issue than the security and proper handling of nuclear weapons," Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

The bomber mistakenly loaded with five warheads flew from Minot Air Force Base, N.D, to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 30, prompting an Air Force-wide investigation.

"The American people, our friends and our potential adversaries must be confident that the highest standards are in place when it comes to our nuclear arsenal," Skelton said.

Skelton said the committee would pursue the matter "to ensure that the Air Force and the Department of Defense address this particular incident and strengthen controls more generally.”