Eight killed in B-52 crash after takeoff from California air base
B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force Base kills 8 in routine test mission Investigators probe the cause and review the wreckage as the base reopens
A B52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, killing all eight people on board, according to military officials. The aircraft was on a routine test mission when it went down around 11:20 a.m. local time in the Mojave Desert.
Officials said the people aboard included both contractors and uniformed military personnel. Col. James Hayes, the base’s deputy commander, said the crash was being treated as fatal for everyone on board after review of the footage, and that authorities were working to notify families.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Investigators said the aircraft was supporting the Air Force’s radar modernization program, and a full review could take months. Edwards Air Force Base later reopened after being closed while emergency crews responded to the fire.