Eight people a mix of military personnel, government civilians and contractors were killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday morning from Edwards Air Force Base, northeast of Los Angeles.
The bomber, conducting a routine test mission in support of the Air Force’s radar modernization program, departed at 11:20 a.m. local time and went down in a crash described by base officials as “tragic and unsurvivable.” Emergency crews responded immediately and the impact left a large black plume and a charred scar along the runway, though video showed little recognizable wreckage.
The base confirmed two Boeing employees were aboard and said the company is assisting their families. Edwards has reopened but operations are paused through Tuesday while military investigators begin a probe; officials expect a public update in about six months as they notify next of kin and collect evidence.
