EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California — The U.S. Air Force is investigating the crash of a B-52 Stratofortress bomber that went down shortly after takeoff during a test mission at Edwards Air Force Base on June 15, killing all eight people aboard, military officials said.
The aircraft crashed at about 11:20 a.m. local time while conducting a routine flight tied to a radar modernization program, according to Edwards Air Force Base. Emergency crews responded immediately, and officials later determined that the crash was not survivable. The Air Force said the bomber was carrying a mix of military personnel, civilian employees and contractors.
Military officials on Wednesday said investigators were continuing to examine the cause of the accident, which occurred at one of the Air Force’s primary flight-testing facilities in California’s Mojave Desert. Authorities have not identified a cause, and officials cautioned that the inquiry could take several months to complete.
The Air Force has identified the victims as four active-duty airmen, one reservist and three civilians. According to military officials, the civilians included personnel involved in testing and modernization work associated with the aircraft. Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among those killed.
At a news conference following the crash, Col. James Hayes, deputy commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said: “We lost eight great Americans.” Hayes said the Air Force’s immediate focus was supporting the families of those killed while investigators worked to determine what happened.
The aircraft was participating in a program to upgrade the B-52 fleet with new radar technology intended to extend the bomber’s operational life into the coming decades. The B-52, first introduced in the 1950s, remains a key component of the U.S. strategic bomber force and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.
According to officials, the bomber remained airborne only briefly before descending and crashing on the base. Investigators are reviewing flight data, wreckage and maintenance records as part of the inquiry. Officials have not released details regarding possible mechanical issues, and the circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear.
As of June 18, recovery and investigative operations were continuing at the crash site. One runway at Edwards Air Force Base remained closed, while other base operations had resumed, according to Air Force officials.
