Topline
Eight people were likely killed after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after taking off from California’s Edwards Air Force Base on Monday morning, the base said in a news release.
A file photo of a U.S. Air Force B-52G Stratofortress bomber.
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Key Facts
The crash happened shortly after the bomber took off around 11:20 a.m. local time, the base said.
The aircraft was flying a “routine test mission,” according to the base, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Emergency personnel are still on the scene, but the base said it believed the crash was “not survivable” based on “initial indications.”
The people on the plane were not immediately identified.
Photos and footage published by CNN and others shared on social media appear to show a black plume of smoke rising from the air base situated in Kern County and San Bernardino County.
Edwards Air Force Base did not immediately return a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
The B-52 is a long range bomber developed by Boeing that can carry conventional weapons or nuclear weapons. The aircraft was developed shortly after World War II, and the Air Force has been using them since the 1960s. A total of 58 aircraft are currently in active use and the military expects to keep using these bombers through 2050, according to an Air Force fact sheet. They typically fly with crews consisting of five service members.