EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif: A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed during takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California on Monday, killing all eight people aboard and prompting the suspension of flight operations at the installation.
Air Force officials said the aircraft was conducting a routine test mission in support of a radar modernization program when it crashed on the runway shortly after becoming airborne.
The eight-engine strategic bomber burst into flames on impact, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky that was visible for miles across the Mojave Desert.
Speaking at a press conference, Air Force Colonel James Hayes confirmed that all eight crew members were killed in the crash. The victims included a mix of military personnel, government civilians and contractors. Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, said two of its employees were among those killed.
Officials said the cause of the crash remains unknown and is under investigation. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Aerial footage from the scene showed a large charred area of desert terrain near the runway, with emergency response teams deployed around the crash site. Authorities described the accident as unsurvivable.
As a precaution, all flight operations at Edwards Air Force Base have been suspended through at least Tuesday while authorities assess runway damage and continue recovery efforts.
The aircraft involved belonged to the 412th Test Wing, which is headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base. The installation serves as the US Air Force’s primary flight-testing center and has played a central role in American aviation history.
The B-52 Stratofortress remains a cornerstone of the US strategic bomber fleet. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, the long-range aircraft has been in service for decades and continues to play a key role in US military operations worldwide.
Monday’s accident marks the first known crash involving a B-52 bomber since a 2016 incident in Guam, in which all crew members survived.
Federal investigators and Air Force safety officials have launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash.