A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles. The incident occurred at 11:20 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the base.
Emergency Response Underway
Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene, and the situation remains ongoing. It is not yet clear if there are any injuries. The crash left a towering black plume visible from a distance, and a large blackened scar now marks the runway. Local news footage shows no immediate signs of wreckage parts.
Base Operations Affected
The airfield has been closed, inbound aircraft are being diverted, and all non-commercial visitor passes are suspended until further notice as the base focuses on its emergency response.
History of the B-52 Bomber
The B-52 is one of the Air Force's oldest aircraft, dating back to the Cold War in the 1950s. This long-range heavy bomber typically carries a crew of five and can hold up to 70,000 pounds of bombs. The B-52H variant, which has nuclear capabilities, has been used in bombing missions over Iran.
