US Air Force B-52 Bomber Crashes in California, Killing Eight

The B-52 Bomber Crash

A long-range United States military aircraft has crashed in the state of California, killing all eight people on board, officials confirm.

The Boeing-manufactured B-52 bomber plunged to the ground at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, officials said at a news conference.

Details of the Crash

The B-52 crashed about 11:20am (19:20 GMT) on Monday shortly after taking off from the base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert.

Military officials said the aircraft burst into flames as it made impact. Colonel James Hayes, the deputy commander for the 412 Test Wing at Edwards, revealed at the news conference that upon reviewing footage of the accident, the military concluded there could not have been any survivors.

The Victims

The US military said the eight victims included members of the military and government contractors.

Boeing on Monday evening also confirmed that two of its employees were on board the aircraft.

The Investigation

It’s not certain for now what caused the accident. Hayes said an investigation could take up to six months.

However, the colonel revealed the B-52 was part of a fleet supporting a “radar modernisation programme”.

The B-52 Bomber

Also known as the BUFF (big, ugly, fat fella), the B-52 is one of the US Air Force’s longest-used bombers. It has been in operation since 1955.

It’s known for its low maintenance despite high performance levels. It can run without refuelling for about 14,000km (8,700 miles), for example.