Air Force Grounds B-1B Bombers Over Ejection Seat Problem

The Air Force has temporarily sidelined its fleet of B-1B Lancer bombers because of an issue with the plane's ejection seats.

Air Force Global Strike Command posted a brief release Friday that said the grounding was prompted by a B-1B that made a recent emergency landing.

"During the safety investigation process following an emergency landing of a B-1B in Midland, Texas, an issue with ejection seat components was discovered that necessitated the stand-down. As issues are resolved, aircraft will return to flight," the release reads.

"The Safety Investigation Board is ongoing. The SIB's purpose is to prevent future mishaps or losses and is comprised of experts who investigate the incident and recommend corrective actions. The safety of Airmen is the command's top priority. The Air Force takes safety incidents seriously and works diligently to identify and correct potential causes."

Air Force Times reported that in the emergency landing, which occurred May 1, at least one of the cockpit escape hatches was blown open but the ejection seat did not deploy.

Neither of the four crew members involved in that incident were injured.

The B-1B entered service in 1986.

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