Eight dead in fiery US bomber crash in California
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- Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday.
- The aircraft was on a routine testing mission when it went down in a fireball.
- An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched, and the airfield was temporarily closed.
A catastrophic incident occurred at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, June 15, when a US B-52 bomber crashed and erupted into flames shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all eight individuals on board. The heavy bomber was reportedly engaged in a routine testing mission at the time of the accident.
Footage from the scene depicted a large, scorched area where the aircraft had impacted, with officials describing the crash as "unsurvivable." Colonel James Hayes confirmed the tragedy, stating, "Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans." The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range bomber in service since the 1950s, was undergoing a test sortie as part of a radar modernization process.
Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans.
Emergency services responded swiftly, but it was quickly determined that there would be no survivors. Colonel Hayes added that the crash was deemed "unrecoverable and unsurvivable" after reviewing the available footage. The exact cause of the crash remains undetermined, and a safety investigation has been immediately initiated.
It took off, and immediately after takeoff, crashed and burst into flames.
The incident occurred around lunchtime at the major military operations center. The airfield was subsequently closed, with all inbound flights being diverted. The identities of the deceased will not be released until all next of kin have been notified, a process expected to take the remainder of the day.
The B-52 bomber, which first flew in 1954, has undergone numerous upgrades throughout its service life and has been deployed in various conflicts. Typically crewed by five individuals, its capabilities include carrying a range of weapons and a combat range of up to 8,800 miles. The aircraft's specifications note a wingspan of 56 meters and a length of 48 meters.
After reviewing the footage of the crash, it was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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