Public Health
Aircraft Collision Cleanup at Palomares, Spain
A United States Air Force B-52 bomber and a KC-135 tanker aircraft collided over Palomares, Spain, while attempting inflight refueling on January 17, 1966. The collision caused four thermonuclear weapons to be released. Two of the weapons were damaged when they hit the ground, releasing plutonium, a radioactive material. There was no nuclear detonation.
General Wilson and ADM Guest with Recovered Bomb
Department of Defense
Approximately 1,600 military and civilian personnel worked to decontaminate the accident site for three months following the accident. During cleanup, personnel wore protective clothing and radiation dose measuring devices, and had regular radiation checks. There have been concerns that those involved in the clean-up mission may have been exposed to airborne dust and debris contaminated with plutonium.
Please see the Notice of Class Certification for Veterans of 1966 Nuclear Clean-Up at Palomares, Spain regarding a class action lawsuit.
Possible health risks
The Air Force states that “adverse acute health effects were neither expected nor observed, and long-term risks for increased incidence of cancer to the bone, liver and lungs [the target organs for plutonium] were low.” The Air Force Medical Service reconstructed the possible radiation doses for Veterans who participated in cleanup of the Palomares accident in 2013, using the highest measured doses obtained from biological monitoring at the time of the accident.
The local Spanish population from Palomares has not reported health problems related to the accident.
Health concerns?
If you are concerned about possible health issues related to participating in the cleanup effort at the Palomares accident site, talk to your health care provider.
Compensation for health problems
Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to participating in the cleanup effort at the Palomares accident site. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. A record of the Veterans involved and the dose level of their exposure is used in evaluating claims. File a claim online.
If there is evidence of a sufficiently harmful dose of radiation exposure, certain diseases may qualify for service connection. Learn more about diseases that may be caused by radiation exposure.
Learn more about health and disability benefits for radiation exposure.
