A US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed and burst into flames immediately after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, killing all eight people on board.
The aircraft went down at about 11:20 AM while conducting a routine test flight connected to the base’s radar modernization program.
The crash occurred on the runway within the base and produced a large column of black smoke visible from miles away.
Base commander Colonel James Hayes described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” and said the victims included military personnel, civilian government employees and contractors.
Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the dead and said it is supporting their families.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, one of the most recognizable bombers in the US military. First introduced in the 1950s, the B-52 remains a key part of America’s long-range strike capability. Nicknamed the “BUFF” (“Big Ugly Fat Fellow”), it can carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons, including conventional bombs and nuclear cruise missiles, fly at altitudes of 50,000 feet, and refuel in mid-air, giving it an almost unlimited operational range.
The bomber normally carries a crew of five, though additional personnel were aboard during this test mission. Edwards Air Force Base, located in California’s Mojave Desert about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, is one of the US military’s main flight-testing centres.
The cause of the accident remains unknown. Initial investigations are expected to take up to a month, while a full technical analysis could take more than six months.
Officials quickly concluded that the crash was unsurvivable.
The crash marks one of the deadliest B-52 accidents in recent years and has prompted a major investigation into what caused the aircraft to fail moments after take-off.
Operations at the base have been temporarily suspended while investigators examine the wreckage.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and several members of Congress expressed condolences, praising both the victims and the emergency crews who responded to the disaster.
