A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed on Monday right after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, killing all eight crew members.
The aircraft was on a routine test mission supporting the base’s radar modernization program when it crashed on the runway. It is designed to carry nuclear and conventional bombs. Col. James Hayes said the crew included military personnel, government civilians, and contractors.
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“Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a terrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said.
Photos of the crash show a smoking black impact area at the end of the runway with no large intact pieces of debris. Officials said the wreck was deemed unrecoverable and unsurvivable after initial footage was reviewed.
The cause of the wreck is unknown and remains under investigation. Hayes said an initial inquiry could take 30 days, with further analysis lasting more than six months.
