Eight killed in US air force B-52 crash at Edwards air force base

Eight people, including two Boeing employees, were killed when a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in southern California on June 15.

The aircraft went down at approximately 11:20 local time while conducting a routine test mission. The crash triggered a large fire, sending a plume of black smoke visible for miles across the surrounding area, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Military officials said the aircraft crashed on the runway within the boundaries of Edwards Air Force Base and burst into flames immediately after takeoff.

"Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a terrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans," Col James Hayes said, describing those onboard as a "mixed crew of military, government civilians and government contractors".

The base had earlier stated that initial indications suggested the crash "was not survivable".

Speaking at an afternoon briefing, Hayes said authorities were notifying relatives of the victims and that their identities would be released 24 hours after next of kin had been informed.

According to Hayes, the crash was "totally contained" within the Edwards Air Force Base on the runway, prompting the temporary suspension of flight operations at the installation.

The B-52 was supporting the base's radar modernisation programme at the time of the accident, he said. After reviewing preliminary footage, officials concluded that the incident was "an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable".

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Hayes said an initial investigation could take up to 30 days, while a more detailed analysis may require more than six months.

In a separate statement, Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among those killed and said the company was in contact with their families. The aerospace manufacturer declined further comment.

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences following the incident. In a post on X, he described the crash as "a tragic incident" and extended sympathies to the victims' families and the Edwards Air Force Base community.

Aerial footage from the scene showed a charred and smoking crash site within the base perimeter.

Earlier, Edwards Air Force Base announced on X that "the airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted".

"All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations."

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, commonly known as the B-52, has been in service with the US military since the 1950s. The aircraft is nicknamed "the Buff", partly derived from the phrase "Big Ugly Fat".

The long-range strategic bomber remains a key component of the US Air Force's fleet and has been used in military operations across multiple regions over several decades.

By Sabina Mammadli