B-52 strategic bomber crashes on takeoff from Edwards AFB, killing all 8 aboard
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed minutes after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert on Monday, killing all eight people on board, in the first fatal accident involving the long-serving bomber since 2008.
Crash on routine test mission
The B-52 Stratofortress went down at 11:20 local time on 15 June 2026, immediately after departing Edwards Air Force Base on a routine test flight with eight crew members aboard. Images from the scene showed a large column of black smoke and scorched earth on the Mojave Desert, about 150 km from Los Angeles. Emergency services arrived promptly, but preliminary evidence indicated the crash was unsurvivable. The US Air Force is working to identify all victims.
Preliminary evidence indicates the crash was unsurvivable. Emergency services are on scene, and authorities are identifying all victims. An investigation is underway.
A bomber with decades of service
The B-52 first entered service in 1955, making it one of the oldest aircraft still in active use by the US Air Force. Typically carrying a five-person crew, the heavy long-range bomber can haul up to 32 tons of conventional or nuclear ordnance. Although production ceased decades ago, 76 B-52H models remain in the inventory, stationed mainly at Minot AFB in North Dakota and Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. Some of those aircraft took part in the bombing of Iran earlier in 2026.
Previous B-52 accidents
Monday’s crash was the first involving a B-52 since May 2016, when a Stratofortress went down on Guam; its seven crew members survived. An earlier accident in 2008 off the coast of Guam killed six people when a B-52 crashed during a parade flyover rehearsal. The latest incident now becomes the deadliest B-52 accident in more than 15 years.
Investigation begins
No cause has yet been determined. Military investigators are at the crash site, and the US Air Force has stated that more details will be released as they become available. The accident underscores the risks of operating elderly airframes even during routine non-combat missions.
