Stealth Bomber mystery deepens after US Iran raid: Where is the missing B-2?

A shadow of secrecy looms large over the United States Air Force’s high-risk bombing mission over Iran earlier this month, as mystery surrounds the fate of one of its prized B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. While the operation, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, was a success by most measures, reports suggest that not all the aircraft returned home as planned.

According to a detailed report by EurAsian Times, the US Air Force launched two groups of B-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 21. One group, comprising seven B-2s, flew east and conducted direct precision strikes on Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear sites of Fordow and Natanz. The stealth bombers reportedly dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, targeting the underground uranium enrichment facilities.

The second group of B-2s flew westward over the Pacific Ocean in what sources say was a calculated diversion to confuse Iranian and international observers. While the attack group completed the gruelling 37-hour round-trip mission and safely returned, the whereabouts of the decoy group remain murky, especially one aircraft now believed to be stranded in Hawaii.

A secret landing in Honolulu

Reports suggest that one stealth bomber from the decoy group, using the callsign MYTEE 14, was forced to make an emergency landing at Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, which shares runway access with Hickam Air Force Base. The aircraft reportedly experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight and diverted for safety reasons. Since then, it has remained grounded in Hawaii.

A video posted by former US Air Force pilot David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin) showing the grounded B-2 has gone viral on social media, fuelling speculation about the nature of the malfunction. The US Air Force has neither confirmed the details of the emergency nor provided a timeline for repairs, citing operational security concerns.

History of B-2 incidents in Hawaii

This isn’t the first time a B-2 Spirit has been stranded in Hawaii. In April 2023, another stealth bomber made an emergency stop at Hickam following an in-flight systems failure. That incident came just months after a December 2022 crash at Whiteman AFB, which resulted in a temporary grounding of the entire B-2 fleet. That crash was later attributed to a malfunction that caused the bomber to veer off the runway and catch fire.

Valued at over $2 billion each, the B-2 Spirit bomber is among the most advanced and expensive aircraft in the world. Its stealth technology allows it to evade even the most sophisticated enemy air defenses, making it central to America’s nuclear and conventional strike capability. With only 19 operational units remaining in the fleet, each aircraft is a rare and irreplaceable asset.

Operation Midnight Hammer is believed to be one of the longest and most complex B-2 missions in recent history. Pilots reportedly maintained radio silence throughout, relying solely on the bomber’s sophisticated navigation systems, encrypted briefings, and coordinated mid-air refueling support to complete their mission.