A huge column of smoke was seen rising from Edwards Air Force Base, California, after officials confirmed a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after take-off, with US authorities confirming at least eight people have died
At least eight people have lost their lives after a bomber aircraft came down at a major US Air Force base.
A vast plume of smoke was spotted rising above the base in California after officials confirmed the aircraft had crashed.
Authorities at Edwards Air Force Base disclosed that, “A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 am.”
Several hours after the incident, the base confirmed eight fatalities, reports the Mirror.
“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,” a statement read.
Images of smoke rising above the base, situated in the Mojave Desert in Southern California, were circulated online. “Did something just happen at Edwards Air Force Base? Currently seeing a large column coming from the base, cams are aligned with one of the runways,” one user posted.
The Air Force and NASA carry out test flights of new and developmental aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base.
Edwards Air Force Base is located in the western Mojave Desert in Southern California, approximately 100 miles from Los Angeles. It is regarded as a substantial base spanning over 300,000 acres, predominantly within Kern County, with sections extending into San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.
A spokesperson for the base said in an update following the incident: “The airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted. All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations.”
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber first introduced in the 1950s that remains a cornerstone of the US military’s air power. Manufactured by Boeing and typically operated by a crew of five, the aircraft is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons over vast distances, and has seen action in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to more recent operations in the Iran war.
Edwards Air Force Base in California is home to the Air Force Flight Test Center and acts as the Air Force Materiel Command’s centre of excellence for flight research and development, as well as the testing and evaluation of aerospace systems from initial concept through to operational deployment in combat.


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