Loss, theft, or seizure of a nuclear weapon would be classified as which type of incident?

• A. Security Incident
• B. Operational Failure
• C. Empty Quiver
• D. Accident

Answer: (C)

In nuclear weapons incident classifications, a loss, theft, or seizure is described as an Empty Quiver. The idea behind this term is that the “quiver” (the arsenal of weapons) has been emptied of a weapon, meaning a warhead is no longer at its secure location. This label signals a missing weapon and triggers the highest level of security response and accountability, since the objective is to locate and recover the weapon and restore control.

This isn’t just a general security issue or a routine mishap. It reflects the absence of a weapon, not merely a failure of equipment or an unintended event. An ordinary security incident would involve unauthorized access or handling without implying that a weapon is missing; an operational failure points to a malfunction in a system or procedure; an accident implies unintended damage or injury during operation. The situation described—the weapon is not where it should be—fits the Empty Quiver category because the critical factor is the missing weapon itself.