Eight Dead in United States Disaster After B-52 Bomber Crashes at California Base
Eight people died when a US B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff on a routine testing mission at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This United States disaster unfolded when the heavy bomber came down in a huge fireball at the base 60 miles north of Los Angeles. [1] The incident claimed the lives of a mixture of military personnel, government officials and civilian contractors who were aboard the aircraft. [1]
Deadly B-52 Crash at Edwards Air Force Base
The crash occurred immediately after takeoff during a radar modernization test sortie and produced a huge fireball that officials described as unsurvivable. [1] Footage of the aftermath showed a large charred patch of ground on which almost nothing remained of the huge plane. [2] Colonel James Hayes told reporters at the base that Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy and lost eight great Americans. [1] The crash happened around lunchtime at the base, a major operations center for the US military, and was contained within the perimeter. [2]
Mission and Aircraft Details
The heavy bomber was on a routine testing mission with a mixture of military, government and civilian contractors on board when it came down. [1] Hayes said the B-52 Stratofortress was on a test sortie as part of a radar modernization process. [2] The plane is usually crewed by five people, an aircraft commander, a pilot, a radar navigator, a navigator and an electronic warfare officer, according to a US Air Force fact sheet on the plane. [1] Eight people were aboard this flight instead of the standard crew of five. [3]
Official Confirmation of Unsurvivable Impact
Colonel James Hayes told reporters that emergency services quickly swung into action but soon determined that there would be no one to rescue. [1] After reviewing the footage of the crash, it was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable. [2] Hayes stated that the B-52 Stratofortress took off and immediately after takeoff crashed and burst into flames. [1] All eight aboard the aircraft were lost in the incident at Edwards Air Force Base. [3]
Investigation and Base Operations
There was no immediate indication as to the cause of the tragedy, and a safety investigation probe was immediately begun. [2] In the aftermath of the accident, the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted, the base said on social media. [1] The crash happened on Monday at the base. [2] No cause has been identified at this stage of the response. [1]
Next of Kin Notification Underway
Hayes said the identities of those who perished would not be released until all next of kin had been informed, a process he said was ongoing and could last for the rest of the day. [2] The mixture of military personnel, government officials and civilian contractors on board means multiple families are awaiting details. [1] Officials have withheld names pending completion of the notification process. [2]
B-52 Bomber Background
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber used by the US military since the 1950s. [1] The B-52 is a heavy bomber that first flew in 1954 and was originally designed for war with the Soviet Union. [2] It has received continual upgrades to keep it in service for decades since the Cold War's end. [1] The massive bomber, which can carry a range of weapons including bombs and cruise missiles, has a wingspan of 185 feet and a length of 159 feet. [2] With a combat range of up to 8,800 miles, the plane is capable of carrying a nuclear payload. [1] The United States has deployed the aircraft in conflicts in Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently in Iran. [2]
What to watch next: A safety investigation remains underway with no cause identified yet, while next of kin notifications continue and could extend through the day, and the airfield at Edwards Air Force Base stays closed with inbound flights diverted. [1]
