U.S. Nuclear Missile Damaged During Maintenance

A U.S. Air Force missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead in an undated photo at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. PHOTO: REUTERS/USAF/AIRMAN JOHN PARIE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

CNN: Nuclear missile 'mishap' costs Air Force $1.8M

(CNN)Three U.S. Air Force airmen have been stripped of their nuclear certifications after a "mishap" caused approximately $1.8 million in damage to an intercontinental ballistic missile on May 16, 2014, officials said Friday.

The incident occurred when the Minuteman III nuclear missile, assigned to the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, became "non-operational" during a diagnostic test, according to a statement released by the U.S. Air Force.

While troubleshooting the issue, the maintenance team chief "mistakenly performed an action not directed by the technical guidance," the statement said.

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Update: This is not good .... Air Force withheld nuclear mishap from Pentagon review team (AP)

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