Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed in a fireball shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday.
The aircraft was on a routine testing mission with military personnel, government staff, and civilian contractors on board.
Colonel James Hayes confirmed the tragedy, calling it “unsurvivable.” Emergency services rushed to the site but found no survivors. The crash left a charred patch of ground with almost nothing remaining of the Boeing-manufactured bomber.
The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range bomber in service since the 1950s, was undergoing radar modernisation tests. Hayes said the aircraft took off and immediately crashed, bursting into flames. The airfield closed after the incident, and inbound flights were diverted.
Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the dead and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The identities of all eight casualties will be released after the next of kin are informed.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suggested a possible flight control malfunction or catastrophic engine failure. He noted that flight testing carries higher risks than routine operations. Investigators from the Air Force and safety agencies have begun probing the cause.
Edwards Air Force Base, located 100 miles north of Los Angeles, is a major testing hub for US military aircraft. The base has historic significance as the site where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947.
