Jettisoned bomb destroyed at Utah's Hill AFB

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AP) - Officials at Utah's Hill Air Force Base have successfully destroyed a 500-pound bomb jettisoned by an F-16 pilot making an emergency landing.

The pilot jettisoned two bombs and two fuel tanks on Thursday when he encountered problems shortly after takeoff.

One of the bombs unexpectedly exploded on impact. The second bomb landed in the same area but didn't explode and was burrowed about 17 feet underground.

Ordnance experts used five explosives to detonate and destroy the bomb in the ground on Saturday.

Fuels technicians already recovered the jettisoned external fuel tanks. Officials say about 500 gallons of fuel was released, and contaminated soil will be excavated to minimize environmental damage.
     
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