Eight Crew Members Believed Dead in B-52 Bomber Crash at Edwards Air Force Base

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE (VINnews) – A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, with eight crew members believed to be dead, officials said.

The aircraft went down around 11:20 a.m. on the base airfield, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, according to a statement from Edwards Air Force Base. Emergency crews responded immediately, and the situation remained ongoing as of Monday afternoon.

Aerial footage from the scene showed a large area of charred desert with black smoke rising, and little visible debris remained. The base did not immediately confirm the number of crew members aboard or their status, but reports indicated eight were believed killed. A standard B-52 crew typically consists of five people.

The base closed the airfield, diverting inbound aircraft, and suspended non-commercial visitor passes to focus on emergency response operations. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash or whether the bomber was armed.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which entered service in 1955, is a long-range bomber capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons. It has been a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force fleet for decades.

Edwards Air Force Base is a key hub for aircraft testing and development. No further details on the specific aircraft or mission were immediately released.

The Air Force is investigating the incident. More information will be provided as it becomes available.