What happened
During a mission originating from Castle AFB, the aircraft was operating at cruising altitude when a fire broke out within the hydraulic system. The sudden onset of the fire necessitated an immediate emergency response from the flight crew.
To avoid the unfolding crisis, all seven crew members successfully performed an ejection from the aircraft. Following the abandonment of the cockpit, the aircraft entered a steep descent and impacted a rice field situated in Tranquility. While the aircraft was completely destroyed upon impact, all seven crew members survived the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the event determined that the primary factor leading to the loss of the aircraft was an in-flight fire within the hydraulic system.