January 24, 1961: A Narrow Escape Near Goldsboro, North Carolina
Today in history marks a chilling reminder of how close the United States came to a catastrophic nuclear accident. On January 24, 1961, a B-52 bomber over Goldsboro, North Carolina, began to break apart in flight after a fuel leak, triggering a sequence of events that could have unleashed two nuclear bombs on a populated area. What followed was a near-miraculous chain of safety failures and safeguards that kept catastrophe at bay.
What Happened that Fateful Night
During a routine training mission, the B-52’s fuel system failed. As the aircraft tumbled, the crew attempted to stabilize the plane, but the situation rapidly worsened. The bomber’s in-flight emergency led to the release and arming of two Mark 39 nuclear bombs aboard the aircraft. In the crash and scramble to control the situation, the bombs’ arming and safety mechanisms were compromised, creating a dangerous and uncertain moment for the air crew and the people on the ground.
Two crucial malfunctions then played out in ways that dramatically reduced the potential for disaster. First, a component failed to fully trigger the bombs’ explosive lenses and detonators. Second, a safety mechanism known as the
