B-52 Bomber Crash at Edwards Air Force Base: 8 Feared Dead

A B-52 bomber has crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California's Mojave Desert, with eight people presumed dead.

The crash occurred on Monday morning at 11:20 a.m. at the Edwards Air Force Base, which is about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, with officials saying that initial indications are that it was not survivable.

The bomber was on a routine test mission as part of a program to modernize its radar from analog to digital, which aims to keep planes like the B-52 in service until 2050.

A statement from Edwards Air Force Base said:

“An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m.

“Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable.

Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel.

Those who died comprised military members, government employees and civilian contractors, according to James Hayes, the deputy commander at Edwards Air Force Base.

Officials do not plan to release the names of those who died in the crash until after next of kin are notified.

Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert, suspects there may have been a flight control malfunction.

It's also possible the controls were rigged wrong after maintenance, or there was a catastrophic engine problem or a failure of a piece of equipment being tested.

The airfield remained closed on Monday afternoon, and all inbound aircraft were being diverted.