A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California, officials said, sending a large plume of smoke over the installation and triggering an immediate emergency response.
The incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. local time on the base airfield, according to statements from the Air Force. Emergency crews were dispatched immediately to the crash site, and the situation remains under investigation.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether there were any injuries or fatalities, nor have they disclosed how many crew members were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. The cause of the incident also remains unknown.
Video footage and images shared from the area showed thick black smoke rising from the base following the crash, which involved one of the U.S. military’s long-range strategic bombers, typically operated by a crew of five.
Edwards Air Force Base, located in California’s Mojave Desert about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, is a key U.S. military and test aviation facility and has historically been used for experimental flight testing and advanced aircraft development.
The B-52 Stratofortress, in service since the 1950s, remains a core component of U.S. strategic airpower, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads over intercontinental distances.
Officials said further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
