Eight Presumed Dead After B-52 Crash at Edwards Air Force Base
A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight crew members, officials said.
Eight crew members are presumed dead after a B-52 bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission on Monday, Air Force officials said. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff at about 11:20 a.m., triggering an explosion and a fire that produced a visible plume of smoke over the Mojave Desert, according to eyewitness photos posted on social media. Base officials stated that "initial indications are that the crash was not survivable" and that an investigation is under way while emergency personnel work to account for all crew members.
Edwards Air Force Base, located roughly 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, serves as a major aerospace testing site for the military. The base spans 484 square miles and includes the world’s largest airfield, a location historically noted for milestones such as Chuck Yeager’s 1947 sound-barrier flight.
The specific mission of the B-52 on Monday has not been disclosed. The aircraft is capable of high-altitude bombing, including nuclear payloads, and is also employed for extensive maritime surveillance. The Air Force’s public affairs office referred to a base social-media post indicating that further information would be released as it becomes available.
Local officials in Lancaster, about 40 miles from the base, offered assistance, but the offer was declined by base authorities. This incident is being monitored as a developing story.