What happened
During a flight over the South China Sea, approximately 400 km from the coast of Vietnam, two B-52 bombers were performing a holding circuit. The aircraft were maneuvering in formation while waiting for a KC-135 tanker to arrive for aerial refueling operations. During this phase of flight, the two aircraft collided with one another and subsequently crashed into the sea.
One of the involved aircraft, registration 57-0179, experienced a catastrophic impact that resulted in five fatalities among the crew. One individual from this aircraft was successfully rescued following the crash.
The second aircraft, registration 57-0047, also sustained fatal damage during the collision. This airframe saw three crew members killed, while the remaining three occupants were evacuated from the wreckage.
Findings
An investigation into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the disaster was a mid-air collision between the two aircraft while they were executing holding maneuvers in formation.