Eight Presumed Dead After B-52 Crashes During Test Flight at Edwards AFB

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, and officials said the eight people on board are presumed dead. The accident occurred around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission, and early indications suggest the crash was not survivable. The base confirmed the airfield was closed and inbound aircraft were diverted while emergency crews responded to the scene.

Colonel James Hayes briefed reporters, stating that next of kin were being notified. > "We lost eight great Americans. This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable, and right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their loved ones," Hayes said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the identities of those aboard have not yet been released. Edwards Air Force Base’s own fire department handled the emergency response; local fire agencies were not involved. The B-52, described by the military as a long-range heavy bomber and the backbone of the U.S. strategic bomber force, typically carries a crew of at least five members, including a commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator and electronic warfare officer.