🐪 Back to Base Camp

☢️ 1966 Palomares Incident

Military & Conflicts Spain Europe

☢️ 1966 Palomares Incident
Cold War nuclear accident and recovery site


🕐 2 min read · Updated 17 Mar 2026 at 03:20
📌 Fast Facts
  • B-52G Stratofortress collided with KC-135 tanker on January 17, 1966, at 31,000 feet
  • Four Mark 28 thermonuclear bombs released; no nuclear detonation occurred
  • Plutonium dispersed across approximately 2.6 square kilometers of farmland
  • Fourth bomb recovered from Mediterranean Sea at 777 meters depth after 80-day search

On January 17, 1966, a United States Air Force B-52G Stratofortress collided with a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker ...

🗺️ View on map

Explore nearby hidden corners on the interactive map

↑ Back to top