At least eight people have died after a United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, officials confirmed.
Crash Details
The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff at 11:20 a.m. local time on June 15, 2026, according to a statement from base authorities. The B-52 was carrying eight personnel on a routine test mission. Initial indications suggest the crash was not survivable.
Emergency response teams are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel. The airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted. Non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus on emergency response operations.
Witness Reports
Pictures of a huge column of smoke billowing over the base were shared online. One user posted, "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."
About Edwards Air Force Base
Located in the western Mojave Desert in Southern California, about 100 miles from Los Angeles, Edwards Air Force Base spans over 300,000 acres, predominantly in Kern County, with portions extending into San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. It is home to the Air Force Flight Test Center and serves as the Air Force Materiel Command’s center of excellence for flight research and development, as well as testing and evaluation of aerospace systems from early concept through operational use in combat. The Air Force and NASA conduct test flights of new and developmental aircraft at this base.
The B-52 Stratofortress
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber first introduced in the 1950s. Built by Boeing and typically carrying a crew of five, the aircraft is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons over long distances. It has been used in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to recent operations in the Iran war and remains a central part of the US military's air power.
