HAGATNA, Guam - A B-2 stealth bomber crashed at an air base on Guam on Saturday but both pilots ejected safely and were in good condition, the Air Force said.

They have been evaluated by medical authorities and are in good condition, the military said in a statement. An Air Force spokeswoman was not immediately available for further details.

Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the wreckage at Andersen Air Force Base, said Geanne Ward, a resident in the northern village of Yigo who was on the base visiting her husband.

Ward said she didnt witness the crash but noticed a rising plume of smoke behind the bases air control tower.

She said crowds began to gather as emergency vehicles arrived Saturday morning local time.

Everybody was on their cell phones, and the first thing everyone wanted to know was did the pilots make it out in time, she said.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

Each B-2 bomber costs about $1.2 billion to build. All 21 stealth bombers are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri but the Air Force has been rotating several of them along with B-1 and B-52 bombers through Guam since 2004.

The rotations are designed to boost the U.S. security presence in the Asia-Pacific region while other U.S. forces are diverted to fight in the Middle East.

The accident occurred 11 days after a Navy plane crashed into the ocean about 20 miles northeast of Guams Ritidian Point. Four aircrew members ejected from the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft and were rescued by helicopter.

Guam is a U.S. territory 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii.

สรุปง่ายๆนะครับ ว่าเครื่องบิน B-2 หนึ่งใน 21 ลำ ของกองทัพอากาศสหรัฐได้เกิดอุบัติเหตุตกที่ฐานทัพอากาศที่เกาะกวม แต่นักบินทั้ง 2 คนดีดตัวออกมาปลอดภัยครับ

โดยปกติแล้วเครื่องบิน B-2 จะประจำกาลอยู่ที่ฐานทัพอากาศในตัวแผ่นดินใหญ่ แต่ตั้งแต่ปี 2004 เป็นต้นมากองทัพอากาศได้เคลื่อนย้ายกำลังบางส่วนทั้งเครื่อง B-1 B-2 B-52 มาประจำการเพื่อเพิ่มอิทธิพลของตนเองในบริเวณมหาสมุทรแปรซิฟิกจนถึง เอเชียครับผม