LOS ANGELES — A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert on June 15, killing all eight people aboard, military officials said, as investigators continued to examine the cause of the accident.
The aircraft went down at about 11:20 a.m. local time during what the Air Force described as a routine test mission. Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash site on the base, where aerial footage later showed a large scorched area and heavy black smoke rising from the desert floor. The Air Force subsequently confirmed that the crash was not survivable.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, told reporters during a briefing following the accident. Officials said the victims included military personnel, government civilians, contractors and two employees of Boeing, which manufactures the B-52. Names of those killed were withheld pending notification of family members.
The bomber was assigned to the 412th Test Wing and was participating in testing related to a radar modernization program, according to Air Force officials and Boeing. The aircraft crashed moments after becoming airborne, though authorities have not released details about any mechanical problems or other factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The B-52 Stratofortress, first introduced into service in the 1950s, remains a central part of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet. The long-range aircraft is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons and is undergoing modernization efforts intended to keep it in service for decades to come.
Following the crash, Edwards Air Force Base temporarily closed its airfield, diverted inbound aircraft and suspended visitor access while emergency personnel secured the scene. Base operations were limited as investigators and recovery teams began their work.
The Air Force has launched a formal investigation into the accident. Officials said the inquiry will examine flight data, maintenance records and wreckage recovered from the crash site. Investigators have not publicly identified a cause, and military officials cautioned that determining what happened could take several months.
The crash was the first loss of a B-52 aircraft since 2016, according to Air Force and defense reports. As of Friday, recovery operations and the investigation remained ongoing, with authorities releasing few additional details while the inquiry proceeds.
