A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, on Monday, officials said.
The aircraft went down on the Edwards airfield around 11:20 a.m., according to a statement from the base posted on X.
"A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m," Edwards Air Force Base wrote on X. "Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing." A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, on Monday, officials said.
The aircraft went down on the Edwards airfield around 11:20 a.m., according to a statement from the base posted on X.
"A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m," Edwards Air Force Base wrote on X. "Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing." No additional information available
Prayers for the crew.
ETA: Corrected misplaced apostrophe. BecauseThis message has been edited. Last edited by: Johnny 3eagles,
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June 15, 2026, 05:26 PM
229DAK
quote:
B-52 Crash at Edward's Air Force Base
Edwards. No posessive.
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June 15, 2026, 05:31 PM
Marlin Fan
Eight are believed killed.
June 15, 2026, 05:33 PM
Johnny 3eagles
Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going.
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June 15, 2026, 05:40 PM
229DAK
quote:
Originally posted by Marlin Fan: Eight are believed killed.
Usually a crew of 5 - pilot, copilot, weapon systems officer, navigator, electronic warfare officer. Check flight evaluation?
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
I heard through AFA that it is thought the B52 was a test bed for some new technologies hence the larger than normal crew complement
June 15, 2026, 06:52 PM
calugo
Tragic loss of our airmen prayers and condolences to the surviving family members
June 15, 2026, 07:15 PM
chellim1
Prayers for all involved.
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June 15, 2026, 07:33 PM
heydrich
Prayers for all!
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June 15, 2026, 07:38 PM
Poacher
quote:
Originally posted by nhtagmember: I heard through AFA that it is thought the B52 was a test bed for some new technologies hence the larger than normal crew complement
Edwards is a test base, so most likely.
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June 15, 2026, 08:26 PM
p220cop
It was this specific aircraft and was on a flight test with the new radar. The extra crew were private and military contractors for the new system.
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June 15, 2026, 09:04 PM
corsair
quote:
Originally posted by nhtagmember: I heard through AFA that it is thought the B52 was a test bed for some new technologies hence the larger than normal crew complement
There's 1-2 of each model of aircraft and helicopter that the USAF flies in its inventory at Edwards. Any new additions, attachments or software get tested out there on those airframes before getting cleared to be sent out to the rest of the force. Same for the Navy Air at China Lake and Pt Magu NAS. Wasn't unusual driving along 395 or 58 to Barstow/Vegas and you'd see a big B-52 flying about as its sturdy airframe also served as a launch truck for all sorts of other tech. Sadly it's likely that the crashed B-52 is one of the test platforms.
June 16, 2026, 01:25 AM
abnmacv
Tragic loss of 8 heroic personnel who died serving their country.
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June 16, 2026, 07:57 AM
mrvmax
It’s a shame that the B-52 is rarely in a position where the ejection system could save the crew in an emergency.
June 16, 2026, 08:17 AM
P250UA5
My wife just called me & said one of the crew was her good friend's husband. Possibly one of the pilots. Edit: He was the first confirmed. RIP Miles
My wife grew up 45 minutes from Edwards.This message has been edited. Last edited by: P250UA5,
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June 16, 2026, 02:11 PM
Gustofer
Looks like they only made it about halfway down the runway. Wonder if they even got airborne.
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June 16, 2026, 04:08 PM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
Looks like they only made it about halfway down the runway. Wonder if they even got airborne.
Airborne, hard right turn, excessive rate of descent (~5,000 fpm) prior to impact. Conjecture points to loss of control, cause is unknown at this time.
There are so many questions to be answered about what led to yesterday’s fatal mishap involving a B-52H bomber at Edwards Air Force Base. The crash was tragic on a level the base, which sits at the center of America’s flight testing ecosystem, has not experienced, at least to our knowledge, for 75 years. The human impact here is just hard to quantify at this time. At the same time, there will be a major developmental impact, too, especially when it comes to work that is being done to modernize the B-52. This is a constellation of programs that are seen as vital to U.S. national security, and are also already running far behind schedule and over budget.
At this time, we do know that the aircraft in question was being used to support the Radar Modernization Program (RMP), and its loss will have ramifications for that effort. The RMP has already suffered years of delays and major cost growth, the latter of which triggered a deep, legally mandated review. However, in the past year, the U.S. Air Force has been talking more positively about progress on this critical upgrade, as well as other parts of a larger B-52 modernization effort that have faced their own hurdles.
“It was a B-52 that was on initial takeoff, supporting the Radar Modernization Program,” Air Force Col. James Hayes, Deputy Commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards, said at a brief press conference yesterday. “It was a local test sortie. It took off, and immediately after takeoff, crashed and burst into flames.”
The 412th is the main unit at Edwards. As noted, the base serves as the Air Force’s main test and evaluation hub.
“After reviewing the footage of the crash, it was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable,” Col. Hayes added. The B-52 had “a mixed crew of military, government civilians, and government contractors supporting this test mission.”
“Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their loved ones,” he also stressed. “This is a tragedy.”
Usually a crew of 5 - pilot, copilot, weapon systems officer, navigator, electronic warfare officer. Check flight evaluation?