'$2 Billion Lost: Most Costly Plane Crash in History Blamed on Humidity'

$2 Billion B-2 Bomber Crash: How Humidity Took Down a Stealth Giant

The B-2 Spirit, a $2 billion marvel of stealth technology, is one of the most advanced military aircraft ever built. Yet in 2008, one of these elite bombers—Spirit of Kansas—was lost in a crash caused not by enemy fire or mechanical failure, but by humidity.

On February 23, 2008, at Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base, the Spirit of Kansas took off on a routine mission. Just seconds into flight, it crashed. Both pilots ejected safely—though one suffered a spinal injury—but the aircraft was completely destroyed.

What Went Wrong?

The culprit: Guam's intense humidity. Moisture infiltrated the B-2’s air data sensors—specifically the Port Transducer Units (PTUs). These sensors, compromised by humidity, fed false altitude and speed data to the onboard computer.

The system incorrectly believed the plane was 682 feet above the ground and in a dive. In response, it ordered a sharp climb, far too aggressive for the aircraft’s actual airspeed and weight. The plane stalled mid-ascent, dipped, and one wing clipped the runway—triggering the fatal crash.

The Costliest Crash in Aviation History

Each B-2 Spirit costs roughly $2 billion, and the Spirit of Kansas’ destruction marks the most expensive aviation accident in history. The aircraft had been stationed in Guam as part of a U.S. strategic deterrence mission targeting North Korea and China.

An Air Force investigation later confirmed the crash was due entirely to sensor failure, triggered by environmental conditions—specifically, moisture distortion from Guam’s high humidity.

This incident remains a stark reminder that even the most cutting-edge technology can be vulnerable to the forces of nature.