B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff in California, killing all eight aboard

16 June 2026 , 10:22

551     0

B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff in California, killing all eight aboard

A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff in Southern California’s Mojave Desert and burst into flames.

All eight people aboard were killed instantly, military officials said, with aerial footage showing virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down during a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, north of Los Angeles.

Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near the runway on the base, with emergency vehicles nearby.

Those on board included government contractors and uniformed military. After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Colonel James Hayes, the deputy commander for the 412 test wing at Edwards, said at a news conference.

‘A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11.20am’, the base said on Facebook.

‘Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene, and the situation is ongoing.’

A large blackened scar is on the runway, but no parts of the wreckage are immediately visible in local news footage.

The B-52 is one of the Air Force’s oldest aircraft, becoming associated with the Cold War in the 1950s.

Today, the long-range heavy bomber typically carries a crew of five and as much as 70,000 pounds of bombs.

The B-52H, which has nuclear capabilities, has been used in bombing missions over Iran.

Thomas Brown

Head of Investigations