A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The airfield was closed, inbound flights diverted and visitor access suspended. Eight crew members were feared dead.
US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California.
UPDATED: Jun 16, 2026 03:51 IST
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on Monday shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, military officials said. Eight crew members are believed to be dead in the accident, according to CNN.
The aircraft went down on the Edwards airfield at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time, according to an official alert posted by the base on X. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site, and rescue and recovery operations remained ongoing.
In an update issued at 12:48 p.m. PDT, Edwards Air Force Base said the airfield had been closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted. The base also announced that all non-commercial visitor passes had been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response efforts.
Aerial footage from the scene, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, showed a large charred and smoldering area of desert terrain roughly the size of a football field. An emergency vehicle was seen moving along the perimeter of the site, while no major pieces of aircraft debris were immediately visible in the footage.
BREAKING: A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base, triggering an emergency response.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage scattered across the desert airfield.
More details, including pic.twitter.com/JRx3R4ElJW — Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2026
The base said emergency crews responded promptly following the crash.
The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed, and an investigation is expected to be launched once the scene is secured.
The Stratofortress, designed and built by Boeing, is a long-range, subsonic aircraft that has served as the backbone of the United States' crewed strategic bomber force for decades. According to the US Air Force, the swept-wing bomber is capable of carrying both nuclear and precision-guided conventional munitions, including gravity bombs and cluster munitions, at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.
In conventional warfare, the B-52 can carry out a wide range of missions, including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations. The aircraft remains one of the most versatile and enduring platforms in the US military arsenal.
Monday's incident marks the first crash involving a B-52 Stratofortress since a bomber of the same type crashed on Guam in May 2016. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive, all seven crew members aboard that aircraft survived.
The Air Force and Pentagon initially declined to comment beyond the information released by Edwards Air Force Base, while base officials were not immediately available for additional statements, Reuters said.
Only the B-52H variant remains in active US Air Force service. The aircraft is assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing, also based at Barksdale. All are operated under Air Force Global Strike Command.
- Ends
Published By:
Zafar Zaidi
Published On:
Jun 16, 2026 02:15 IST
Read the full article at India Today →📄Source document: Colonel James Hayes, Deputy Commander for the 412 Test Wing
3 reports
Scroll.inIndependentCenter5 days agoEight crew members were killed when a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff as part of a radar modernization program. Officials described the crash as 'tragic and unsurvivable.' The victims included military personnel, government civilians, and contractors. Boeing confirmed two of its employees were among the deceased. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military accident without apparent political framing. It provides factual details about the incident, including casualties, location, and ongoing investigation, without showing bias toward any political side.
Official sources cited
- government Colonel James Hayes, Deputy Commander for the 412 Test Wing
- government Chief Master Sergeant Joshua T Skarloken
- press release AFP (Agence France-Presse)
- press release CNN
- organisation Boeing
India TodayIndependentCenter5 days agoA US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident occurred on Monday around 11:20 a.m. local time. Eight crew members are believed to have died. The airfield was closed, inbound flights were diverted, and visitor access was suspended. Emergency response teams were deployed to the crash site, and recovery operations continued. Aerial footage showed significant damage to the surrounding desert area.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military accident with no apparent political framing. It provides factual details without opinion, emphasis, or biased language. The content focuses on the event itself, including casualty numbers, response actions, and physical impact, without leaning toward any particular側
NDTVIndependentCenter5 days agoA B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff Monday morning at a U.S. Air Force base in California's Mojave Desert, according to officials.
Bias read (Center): The subject matter is technical and related to military operations, which is not inherently politically charged. The article provides a straightforward report without evident framing or slant.
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