'We thought it was the end of the world': How the US dropped four nuclear bombs on Spain in 1966
www.bbc.com
After two planes collided, three hydrogen bombs hit a Spanish village, and one fell into the sea nearby. Two years later, villagers talked to the BBC about the terrifying accident.

A bomber carrying the bombs crashed into its refueling jet causing the disaster. Two of the bombs’ parachutes didn’t open and the explosives around the nuclear core exploded scattering radiation across the countryside. The U.S. and Spain reached an agreement to clean up the soil, but it still hasn’t been done.

      • Zron@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        3 days ago

        They’re called broken arrow incidents by the US government.

        The Russians have a list as well.

        The US has almost detonated a hydrogen bomb over the US state of Georgia. The plane had to ditch its bomb due to an engine issue, and all but one of the lockouts failed.

        The Cold War was a nutty time, both sides had enough nuclear armed planes flying to decapitate the other side at a moments notice. Accidents were bound to happen.

        There’s also been incidents on both sides where launch detection systems have falsely identified nuclear launches, and only the intervention of a few people prevented a retaliatory launch.

        Nukes are stupid.