A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Monday, June 15.
According to Edwards Air Force Base, the bomber crashed at the airfield around 11:20 a.m. local time. Emergency teams immediately responded to the scene and began rescue operations. Authorities have not yet revealed the cause of the accident or the condition of those on board the plane.
Several videos of the accident surfaced on social media, showing a large plume of black smoke rising near the airfield. The footage quickly went viral as emergency responders worked at the scene.
The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the United States military’s most iconic long-range bombers and has remained in active service for more than seven decades.
The aircraft is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons and is typically flown by a crew of five.
Edwards Air Force Base, located in California’s Mojave Desert, is one of the United States Air Force’s premier aviation test facilities and is home to the 412th Test Wing and the Air Force Test Pilot School.
The accident comes at a time when the U.S. military continues to rely on an aging but highly capable bomber fleet while continuing modernization efforts aimed at extending the operational life of the B-52.
Officials said more information regarding the incident will be released as the investigation progresses.
