US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes shortly after takeoff from California base

A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed on Thursday shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert. Black smoke was seen rising above the base, with debris visible from a distance, according to CNN footage.

Emergency services were on the scene following the crash of the heavy bomber around 11:20 a.m. local time, the U.S. military confirmed on X. The B-52, one of the Air Force's oldest aircraft, first entered service in 1955. This long-range heavy bomber typically has a five-person crew and can carry more than 30 tons of ordnance.

The current B-52H version remains a key part of the Air Force's arsenal, with 76 aircraft in service. It has been used in attacks on Iran and is capable of carrying nuclear bombs and cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. The last B-52 crash occurred in 2008 when six crew members died after the bomber fell into the Pacific Ocean.

The B-52 bomber has not been manufactured since 1962, but the military recently launched an initiative to upgrade the aircraft with new engines. The cause of Thursday's crash was not immediately clear.