Eight people were killed after a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed in California during a routine test flight. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base on Monday. The incident has prompted a major emergency response and a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
According to officials, the bomber departed Edwards Air Force Base at about 11:20am local time for a scheduled test mission. The aircraft crashed minutes later northeast of Los Angeles. Authorities said initial assessments indicated the crash was not survivable, confirming the deaths of all eight people on board.
Speaking at a press briefing, Colonel James Hayes described the accident as a tragic loss. He said the victims included military personnel, government civilians and private contractors. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site and began recovery and assessment operations.
Meanwhile, Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among those killed in the accident. The aerospace company expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged continued support. Officials have not yet released the identities of those who died pending family notifications.
The airfield was temporarily closed following the crash, with incoming aircraft diverted to other locations. Authorities also suspended non-commercial visitor access to the base to support emergency operations. Investigators are now examining the wreckage and flight data to determine what caused the fatal accident.