A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base, prompting an emergency response and closure of the airfield.
A military aircraft incident occurred on Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base, located northeast of Los Angeles, California. The base reported via social media that a United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at 11:20 a.m.
Following the crash, emergency crews quickly responded to the scene, and the situation remains ongoing. As of now, it is unclear whether there were any injuries related to the incident, and CNN has reached out to the base for further details.
The crash resulted in a significant black plume of smoke visible at the airbase, which is situated in California's Mojave Desert. Video footage from CNN affiliate KCAL captured the aftermath, showing a large blackened scar on the runway, though distinct parts of the wreckage were difficult to identify.
In response to the crash, the airfield has been closed, and inbound aircraft are being diverted. Additionally, all non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice as the base prioritizes its emergency response efforts.
The B-52 bomber involved in the incident is one of the oldest aircraft in the Air Force, having first entered service in 1955. This long-range heavy bomber typically operates with a crew of five and has the capacity to carry up to 70,000 pounds of bombs and munitions.
The variant currently in use, the B-52H, remains a crucial component of the Air Force's arsenal, with a fleet of 76 aircraft. The B-52H has been utilized in bombing missions during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran, and it is capable of carrying nuclear bombs and nuclear-armed cruise missiles.
Prior to this incident, the last fatal accident involving a B-52 occurred in 2008, resulting in the deaths of six Air Force personnel when their aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Guam during preparations for a parade flyover.
Manufactured by Boeing, the B-52 has not been produced since 1962, but various life-extension programs have been initiated to modernize the airframe and extend its operational life. The Air Force has recently launched a new initiative aimed at upgrading the B-52's engines, with an anticipated total cost of $48.6 billion, as reported by Defense News.
Since the B-52 is no longer in production, any necessary replacements are sourced from decommissioned airframes stored at the so-called 'Boneyard' at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, similar to the process followed after a non-fatal B-52H crash in Guam in 2016.
This article is part of a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
