Key facts
- A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
- All eight crew members aboard the bomber were killed in the crash.
- Two of the deceased were employees of aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
- The aircraft was participating in a radar modernization program test flight.
- Limited flight tracking data indicates the bomber made a sharp turn before crashing at a high rate of descent.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight crew members aboard. The incident occurred during a test flight for a radar modernization program.
Limited flight tracking data suggests the aircraft made a sharp right turn and nearly completed a 180-degree maneuver before plunging to the ground at a rate of descent of 5,056 feet per minute. The airfield remained closed as crews worked to make the crash site safe following overnight fires.
The B-52, which entered service in 1955, is scheduled to receive further upgrades to remain operational through at least 2050. The radar modernization program aims to replace the bomber's 1960s-era radar with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system, enhancing navigation and targeting capabilities. It remains unclear if the crashed aircraft was equipped with the new system.
Among the deceased were two employees of Boeing, the aircraft's manufacturer. Edwards Air Force Base is a key site for the U.S. Air Force's aircraft test and development efforts. Investigators anticipate the accident investigation could take up to six months.