US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes in California after takeoff

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on Monday shortly after departing from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. local time, according to a statement from the base, located about 95 kilometers north of Los Angeles.

Emergency crews immediately responded to the crash site. While details regarding any potential injuries or fatalities remain scarce, a spokesperson for the base declined to provide further information. The Air Force confirmed that the aircraft was on a training mission at the time of the incident.

Aerial views of the crash site revealed a vast scorched area on the ground, with initial reports describing plumes of thick black smoke rising into the sky. The wreckage of the aircraft was not immediately apparent. The B-52, a long-range bomber that has been in service since the 1950s, has a combat radius of 8,800 miles and is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.