Edwards Air Force Base says a B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight crew members crashed shortly after takeoff Monday at about 11:20 a.m., and those on board are believed to have died. Initial indications from the base describe the crash as not survivable, and emergency teams are working on the scene. The airfield was closed, incoming flights were diverted, and visitor access was suspended while authorities investigate. Further details will be released as they become available.
Eight Believed Dead After B-52 Stratofortress Crash at Edwards Air Force Base
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron undergoes pre-flight procedures at Edwards Air Force Base in California in 2020. A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after taking off from the base on Monday. Air Force File Photo by Giancarlo Casem
Edwards Air Force Base in California reported that a B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight crew members crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday at about 11:20 a.m. Pacific Time. Initial indications, the base said in a post to X, are that "the crash was not survivable."
Emergency response personnel were on scene working to account for all eight crew members. The base said its "thoughts and prayers are with the families and unit members at this time." Officials cautioned that details remain preliminary as recovery and investigative operations continue.
The airfield was closed following the accident, with incoming aircraft diverted while responders secured the scene. An earlier post on X noted: "All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations."
Video recorded near the base showed a plume of black smoke rising over the Mojave Desert. Edwards Air Force Base, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, frequently hosts test flights for new and experimental Air Force and NASA aircraft.
The base said it will provide additional information as it becomes available. Military safety investigators are expected to examine the wreckage and circumstances of the crash; no further official findings have been released at this time.
Note: Casualty figures are described by the base as "believed dead" and remain preliminary pending confirmation from investigators and officials.
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