Stratofortress bursts into flames during training mission at Edwards Air Force Base, grounding operations.
Image: CNN
A B-52 Stratofortress crashed during takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, killing all eight crew members on board.
The aircraft burst into flames shortly after leaving the runway in the Mojave Desert, sending thick black smoke into the sky over the crash site.
Officials said the bomber was on a routine test mission linked to a radar modernization program when the accident occurred.
The crew included military personnel, government civilians and contractors. Defense contractor Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the dead.
Authorities said the cause of the crash is still under investigation, and operations at Edwards Air Force Base have been temporarily suspended due to runway damage.
The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the U.S. military’s main long-range bombers, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.
This is the first crash involving a B-52 since 2016, highlighting concerns around aging aircraft safety and ongoing modernization efforts.
Edwards Air Force Base, a key U.S. test facility in California, remains closed to operations as investigators examine the wreckage.
