Washington, February 25, 2008 - The U.S. Air Force’s B-2 flight operations remain suspended in the United States and Guam following the crash of a batwing stealth aircraft in Guam. 

The Air Force will review safety procedures while the aircraft is in the state of temporary break.  However, B-2 fleet will remain ready for flight if necessary. 

On Saturday, a B-2 went down shortly after take-off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, though the pilots ejected safely.  Guam is a U.S. territory 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii. 

Officials noted that it was the first time a B-2 had crashed and each aircraft costs more than a billion dollars. 

The planes remain on a safety pause while safety reviews are conducted into the accident.  By early Monday, flight operations could resume but it wasn’t clear what preventive measures and actions would be taken before the planes would be able to fly again. 

Air Force procedures shall be considering a “safety pause”.  A “stand-down” or “grounding” will be implemented only if it will be ordered by senior Air Force commanders from the Air Combat Command.