Eight Killed as US Air Force B-52 Bomber Crashes During Test Flight in California

A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed during a routine test mission in California on Monday, leaving all eight people on board dead.

According to Edwards Air Force Base, the aircraft went down shortly after departing at approximately 11:20 a.m. PDT from the installation for what officials described as a scheduled test flight.

In a statement posted on X, the base said early assessments indicated there were no survivors.

Speaking at a press briefing, Col. James Hayes, Deputy Commander of the 412th Test Wing, described the incident as a devastating loss.

“We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that those on board included military personnel, government civilian staff, and private contractors.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the B-52 bomber, later confirmed that two of its employees were among those killed in the crash.

The company expressed condolences to the families of all victims and said it would continue to provide support during the aftermath of the tragedy.

Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash site located northeast of Los Angeles, while officials launched efforts to account for all personnel and secure the area.

Edwards Air Force Base temporarily closed its airfield following the incident, diverting incoming aircraft and suspending all non-commercial visitor access to prioritise emergency operations.

Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.