Eight crew members are presumed dead after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert.
“An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today after take-off at 11:20 a.m. (PDT). Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the Air Force Base wrote in a news release posted on X.
The base also confirmed that the crash is under investigation.
Aerial footage of the crash scene showed black smoke rising from a charred patch of desert floor approximately the size of a football field. No large pieces of debris were directly visible in the footage.
Deputy Commander of the Base Elaborates On Incident
“We lost eight great Americans,” Col. James Hayes, deputy commander for the 412 Test Wing at Edwards, said at a news conference, adding that the cause of the incident is unclear and the investigation could take up to six months to complete.
The crew members aboard the aircraft reportedly included government contractors and uniformed personnel.
Boeing Confirms Two Of Its Employees Were Part of The Crew
Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, confirmed that two of its employees were among the crew aboard the bomber.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the eight crew members who lost their lives,” the aerospace company said in a statement.
Boeing B-52's Significance
The Boeing B-52 is a long-range bomber designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Nicknamed “the Buff” for Big Ugly Fat Fellow, it’s been the primary bomber for the U.S. military since 1955, being used in conflicts involving the U.S. Military from Vietnam to Iran.
Rick Scott Offers Condolences
“Anne and I are praying for the families of the service members who lost their lives today. We can never fully thank them for their service to our country,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote on X. “May God bless them and heal the heavy hearts of their family, friends, and loved ones.”
