Eight crew members are believed to be dead after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

JUST IN: U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber Crashes At Base In California

"An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m. (PDT). Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable. Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel. The crash is currently under investigation," the base stated.

KTLA shared further:

KTLA’s Rich Prickett was over the scene Monday afternoon, where the wreckage from the crash could be seen, with not much remaining of the military jet.

A major plume of black smoke could reportedly be seen for miles shortly after the crash.

No details were immediately released about the cause of the crash.

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“More information will be provided as it becomes available,” Edwards said in a statement.

The airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted. All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice.

The South Gate will remain closed until further notice to accommodate emergency response and investigation teams.

Fox News shared a breaking alert:

Newsweek noted:

Base officials in California announced at 12:48 p.m. PDT that the airfield has been closed, all inbound aircraft diverted, and all non‑commercial visitor passes suspended “to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations.”

The incident raises urgent questions about aircraft safety and operational readiness involving one of the military’s most iconic long‑range bombers. Investigators are expected to begin assessing the cause of the crash as the Air Force prepares to release additional details.

 

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