A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday from Edwards Air Force base in California’s Mojave Desert, according to the military base.
The crash was reported at about 11:20 a.m. Emergency crews responded to the scene about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
In an email to NBCLA, Edwards Air Force Base said more information will be provided when available.
Video showed black smoke rising from an area near the airfield.
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The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber used for a variety of military missions. Capable of subsonic speeds and altitudes of 50,000 feet, the bomber was a workhorse of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and has been the backbone of the United States’ bomber force for decades.
The sprawling 480-square-mile Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County is used for research, development and testing of U.S. Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software, and components.