California, United States โ June 15, 2026 โ An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, killing eight people, the base confirmed on Monday.
According to officials, the aircraft burst into flames after the crash, and the incident was immediately classified as unsurvivable following a review of available footage. Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, described the event as a โhorrible tragedy,โ stating:
โWe lost eight great Americans.โ
Authorities said the crew consisted of a mix of active-duty military personnel, government civilians, and contractors. The identities of those killed will be released 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications are completed.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the victims and said it is providing support to their families.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the scene while officials worked to account for all personnel involved.
The base temporarily shut down its airfield, diverting incoming flights and suspending all operations as investigations began.
Officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation and could take several months to determine.
The B-52 Stratofortress, first introduced in the 1950s, remains one of the U.S. Air Forceโs long-range strategic bombers, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads.
๐ Sources
- ABC News (June 15, 2026)
- KABC News report and footage
- Edwards Air Force Base (U.S. Air Force briefing)
- Boeing official statement (June 15, 2026)