In 1961, the US almost detonated two nuclear bombs over North Carolina by accident
In North Carolina, the two atomic bombs were released after a B-52 airplane carrying the payload went into a tailspin during a routine test flight — one of the bombs eventually landed
“IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD NEWS — IN SPADES.”in a tree, and the other in a meadow, The Guardian says. The document says the bombs should have detonated — parachutes were deployed and triggers were armed, but one low-voltage switch failed to activate as it should have, preventing what would have been devastating and widespread damage.