The mistake was so serious

So serious that it could have been deadly. Apparently, last week, a B-52 bomber air craft carried six nuclear warheads across several US states in the course of transporting them between two US Air Force bases.

It was supposed to be a routine weapons transfer but one Air Force commander - now summarily sacked for endangering the population - made the grave mistake of arming the air craft with the bombs!

A grave mistake because anything could have happened: the pilot could have become suddenly psychotic and trigger happy, the air craft could have crashed, a civilian craft could have plowed into it accidentally, and heck, some kid or nut case could have taken a pot shot at it.

Not one bomb - SIX! Hiroshima and Nagasaki got just one ancient model each in 1945 but the places hit are still relatively bereft of plant and animal life till today.

Of course, the Air Force had this classic reassurance to give to the politicians:

[....He said Gates was assured that "the munitions were part of a routine transfer between the two bases and at all times they were in the custody and control of Air Force personnel and at no time was the public in danger."....

"Nothing like this has ever been reported before and we have been assured for decades that it was impossible," said Markey, D-Mass., co-chair of the House task force on nonproliferation.

The plane was carrying advanced cruise missiles from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on Aug. 30, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a Defense Department policy not to confirm information on nuclear weapons.

The missiles, which are being decommissioned, were mounted onto pylons on the bomber's wings and it is unclear why the warheads had not been removed beforehand.

According to the officials, the weapons are designed with multiple safety features that ensure the warheads don't accidentally detonate.

Arming the weapons requires a number of stringent protocols and authentication codes that must be followed for detonation. And they are designed to withstand a significant impact, including an aircraft crash, without detonating.

The Air Combat Command has ordered a command-wide stand down on Sept. 14 to review procedures, officials said. They said there was minimal risk to crews and the public because of safety features designed into the munitions.

In addition to the munitions squadron commander who was relieved of his duties, crews involved with the mistaken load — including ground crew workers — have been temporarily decertified for handling munitions, one official said....]