Eight people were feared to be dead after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed just after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California on Monday, authorities said.
The crash took place just after11:20 a.m. June 15, according to Air Force officials.
“A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield,” according to a statement from Edwards AFB.
“Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the Air Force announced in an afternoon update. “Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel.”
The crash took place during what Air Force officials described as a routine test mission.
“The situation is ongoing,” the statement said. “More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
No information regarding a possible cause of the crash was available.
Authorities shut down the airfield and diverted all incoming aircraft as the investigation situation continued to develop Monday afternoon.
“Additionally, all non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations,” base officials stated.
What is the B-52 Stratofortress?
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, first brought into service in 1955, is a long-range heavy bomber employed in a wide variety of missions, according to the Air Force.
The subsonic aircraft can reach altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.
“It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability,” according to an Air Force fact sheet. “In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.”
Making history at Edwards Air Force Base
Many of mankind’s historic achievements in aviation have taken place over a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert known as Edwards Air Force Base, and continue to this day.
Edwards Air Force Base was established in 1942 at what was then known as the Muroc Dry Lake and has since steadily grown to more than 300,000 acres in size, or 470 square miles, Paoli said.
The base functions as a town with more than 11,000 residents, consisting of roughly 20% military personnel and 80% civilians, he said.
From the first aircraft to carry a human faster than the speed of sound to the first-ever stealth aircraft, the artifacts and history at the United States’ largest airfield could easily fill a palatial museum.
Edwards Air Force Base has been at the forefront of military aviation technology since it was established more than 80 years ago, according to retired Air Force Lt. Col. and 412th Test Wing spokesman Mike Paoli.
“The future of the Air Force is flying over Edwards Air Force Base today,” he said.
(This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Eight believed dead in Southern California B-52 bomber crash
Reporting by Brian Day, USA TODAY NETWORK / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Day, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
