On January 17, 1966, a 1966 Palomares B-52 crash was involved in an aviation accident near Spain. 7 people were killed. The investigation identified aviation accident as a causal factor. This summary draws on records from Wikidata contributors.
On 17 January 1966, a US Air Force B-52G bomber and a KC-135 tanker collided during refueling over the Mediterranean Sea near Palomares, Spain. The tanker was destroyed and the bomber broke apart, killing seven crew members total.
Collision
On 17 January 1966, a United States Air Force B-52G bomber and a KC-135 tanker collided while conducting mid-air refueling at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,450 meters) over the Mediterranean Sea. The incident occurred near the Spanish village of Palomares in Almería province.
Casualties
The collision resulted in the destruction of the KC-135 tanker, killing all four crew members aboard. The B-52G bomber broke apart, leading to the deaths of three of its seven crew members.
Operation Chrome Dome
The B-52G was participating in Operation Chrome Dome, a Cold War airborne alert mission that involved continuous flights of nuclear-armed bombers.