✉news WarNuclear first seen 18 h ago, last 21 min ago, peak #5
The 1966 Palomares Incident: B-52 Crash Lost a Hydrogen Bomb for 80 Days
Original: It Took 80 Days to Find It: A US Air Force B-52 Bomber Collided Into a Tanker and Lost a Hydrogen Bomb in the Mediterranean in 1966
In January 1966, a US Air Force B-52 bomber carrying hydrogen bombs collided mid-air with a KC-135 tanker during refuelling off the coast of Spain, scattering nuclear weapons near Palomares. One bomb fell into the Mediterranean and took 80 days to recover, in one of the most complex search operations of the Cold War. Renewed attention to the accident continues to highlight the risks of nuclear-armed airborne alert missions and the long aftermath of contamination in the area.
Why now: Renewed interest in Cold War nuclear near-misses, likely linked to current concerns about nuclear safety and military incidents.
US Air ForceB-52 StratofortressPalomaresMediterranean SeaKC-135 Stratotanker
Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 14 snapshots from 18 h ago to 21 min ago.
Evidence
API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/120012