According to reports from The Washington Post and The Independent, on June 15, a U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber crashed in California, carrying eight people on board. There are no expected survivors.
Video footage shows law enforcement officers at the scene, captured by KABC, an ABC affiliate.
Reports indicate the crash occurred during a test flight of a B-52 “Stratofortress” strategic bomber. In a statement, U.S. Air Force officials said the accident happened at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time on the 15th, with initial signs pointing to “no survivors.”
Hours after the incident, Edwards Air Force Base issued a press release stating that emergency responders were on site, and officials were working to verify the status of all personnel.
Earlier, the base posted on social media that Edwards Airport, where the crash occurred, was closed as of the afternoon of June 15.
An analysis of radar tracking data by The Washington Post shows the bomber was flying northeast around 11:10 a.m., then gradually turned more northward, before suddenly veering northwest and diving at a rate of more than 5,000 feet per minute.
Local media footage shows the crash site smoking with the ground scorched black.
It’s reported that B-52 bombers are typically operated by a crew of five. On its website, the U.S. Air Force states: “For more than 60 years, the B-52 has been the backbone of America’s strategic bomber force.”
Currently, the U.S. Air Force maintains about 70 B-52 bombers in its active fleet, with most stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, while some are used for testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Edwards is a primary base for the Air Force to test and develop new aircraft and weapons.
