U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashes in Guam, crew escapes injury

YIGO, Guam, May 19 (UPI) -- Seven crew members aboard a U.S. Air Force bomber escaped without injury after the aircraft crashed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

The B-52 Stratofortress, which was carrying inert munitions, aborted takeoff from the U.S. Pacific territory airbase during a routine training mission when the crash occurred about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday local time. The Air Force said all seven crew aboard left the aircraft safely. The Air Force did not say why the takeoff was aborted.

The bomber was deployed to Andersen from Minot, N.D., as part of the U.S. Defense Department's continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific. The aircrew was from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.

"We are thankful that the aircrew are safe," said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing Commander. "Because of their quick thinking and good judgement in this emergency situation, the aircrew not only saved their lives but averted a more catastrophic incident."

Environmental specialists were assessing possible impacts from leaking fluids and burning materials to mitigate damages to the ecosystem, the Air Force said.

Shortly after the crash, Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo's office encouraged local residents not to jump to conclusions, saying it "does not appear to be an attack, and we highly discourage anyone from spreading assumptions, or any information that does not come from civil defense or the military itself."