{"id":706298,"date":"2026-06-15T22:50:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T22:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/706298\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T22:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T22:50:08","slug":"eight-killed-in-b-52-bomber-crash-at-edwards-air-force-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/706298\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight killed in B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force base"},"content":{"rendered":"

At least 8 people are dead after an $85 million nuclear-capable B-52 Stratofortress<\/a> crashed in a huge explosion at California\u2019s Edwards Air Force Base, officials said on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

A massive cloud of black smoke appeared in the skies above Kern County after the enormous military jet smashed into the ground shortly after takeoff on Monday morning.<\/p>\n

Other images showed the smoldering remains of the aircraft with a massive black shadow across the site where it made impact.<\/p>\n

Several hours after the crash, the base announced eight had been killed in the crash.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m.. Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable. Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel,\u201d a statement read.<\/p>\n

The aftermath of the crash seen from above. FOX<\/p>\n

The huge plume of black smoke could be seen from miles away. X\/@RichhdaRuler<\/p>\n

The B-52 Stratofortress uses a massive 185 lb, 90-foot-long drag parachute during landing to reduce its stopping distance. Facebook\/EdwardsAirForceBase<\/p>\n

The base posted on X just after noon<\/a>: \u201cA United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress<\/a> crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing. More information will be provided as it becomes available.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an update, it added: \u201cThe airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted. All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations.\u201d <\/p>\n

Images began to surface Monday on X showing the cloud. X\/@K_DUBB_80<\/p>\n

\u201cDid something just happen at Edwards Air Force Base? Currently seeing a large column coming from the base, cams are aligned with one of the runways,\u201d one user wrote. X\/@K_DUBB_80<\/p>\n

The huge plume of smoke was captured on a webcam from a huge distance away. UCSD<\/p>\n

A B-52 taking off from Edwards Air Force Base seen in an undated photo. Facebook\/EdwardsAirForceBase<\/p>\n

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\u201cHeather and I are praying for everyone involved in today\u2019s B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, especially the crew, their families, and the first responders on scene,\u201d local Congressman Jay Obernolte said.<\/p>\n

After the initial explosion, one social media user wrote: \u201cDid something just happen at Edwards Air Force Base? Currently seeing a large column coming from the base, cams are aligned with one of the runways.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The B-52 Stratofortress has been operated by the United States Air Force since 1955, it was designed and built by Boeing \u2014 it was built to carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons and can travel about 8,800 miles without refueling.<\/p>\n

A B-52 Stratofortress equipped with a newly upgraded radar system arrived at Edwards Air Force Base from Boeing\u2019s facility in San Antonio back in December, as part of an effort to modernize the bombers.<\/p>\n

A massive plume of black smoke appeared in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County Monday after an $85 million nuclear-capable B-52 Stratofortress crashed. UCSD<\/p>\n

The new radar system installed in the planes was part of a wider modernization effort aimed at improving the B-52\u2019s performance to keep the aircraft useable for decades.<\/p>\n

Edwards Air Force base was the Mojave Desert test site where Tom Cruise\u2019s Maverick hit Mach 10 at the beginning of Top Gun: Maverick.<\/p>\n

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