Posted on 06/15/2026 5:04:00 PM PDT by Red Badger
Eight crew members are dead in a B-52 bomber crash shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, northeast of Los Angeles, on Monday morning, the base said.
The B-52 Stratofortress was on a routine test mission that took off at 11:20 a.m. local time at the remote air base, officials said. It is now considered a recovery operation.
“It was tragic and unsurvivable,” Colonel James Hayes said at a news conference.
Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash involving the bomber, which left a towering black plume in its wake, the base said.
Teams are working to notify families about the deaths over the next several hours, Chief Master Sgt. Joshua T. Skarloken said. The crew was a mix of military officials, government civilians and government contractors, Skarloken said.
The B-52 bomber that crashed Monday was performing a test supporting the radar modernization program, Air Force officials said.
The base’s runway was left with a large blackened scar on the sandy runway, as well as some residual smoke, but it was difficult to make out any distinct parts of the wreckage, video from CNN affiliate KCAL shows.
The base has been reopened, though officials are standing down on operations through Tuesday, Hayes said.
The B-52 is one of the Air Force’s oldest aircraft, first entering service in 1955. The long-range heavy bomber, which typically carries a crew of five, can carry as much as 70,000 pounds of bombs and other munitions.
The currently flown version, the B-52H, still plays a major role in the Air Force’s arsenal, which includes 76 of the aircraft. It was used in bombing missions during the current conflict between the US and Iran. The B-52H can also carry nuclear bombs and nuclear-armed cruise missiles.
(Excerpt) Read more at lite.cnn.com ...
Rest In Peace.
Strange that the military has a worst aviation record than civilian jet liners. I’m waiting to see if it was a DEI pilot.
just awful. prayers up for all those families. oof.
May God rest their souls, and may he bless and comfort their loved ones.
Just horrible no words :(
I do think it's going to be pilot error....
Those civilian planes don’t have to do tricks...
and gernally don’t take enemy fire. (not that I think that happened in this case. Just generally)
Strange, eight on board? I guess it was loaded down with test equipment and technicians to analyze the modifications?
“and gernally don’t take enemy fire. (not that I think that happened in this case. Just generally)”
Unless Hillary is on board…
I lived in Virginia for a year. I was traveling south on the only road from Williamsburg (I think). All of a sudden...road was closed....and these little jets came into view on maneuvers....which included breaking the sound barrier. Fun to watch.
Yes, the colonel said it was on a test flight for some new radar system upgrades.
My guess is there was a catastrophic failure of the flight control systems. Maybe some wires got nicked or cut or not fully connected cables somewhere inside the aircraft during the modifications..........
Military jets fly places and do things that civilian airliners don’t.
Bumpy
thank goodness the pilot didn’t take down a commercial jet filled with passengers
B-52s don’t do “tricks”.
Civilian pilots are far more experienced than military. A military pilot will fly perhaps 3,000 hours in their career. Airline pilots will fly 20,000-3,000 hours and do not attain aircraft commander status (captain) until they have 10,000-15,000 hours.
Civilian fly *20,000 - 30,000 hours in a career.
It still amazes me that ANYTHING stays aloft.
(I understand the physics, but am still awed by aviation).
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