Latest Breaking News

BumRushDaShow

(173,489 posts) Mon Jun 15, 2026, 03:40 PM Jun 15

Air Force B-52 bomber crashes shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California [View all]

Source: ABC News

June 15, 2026, 4:08 PM

An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, the base said. "Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing," the base said in a statement. The crash was reported at about 11:20 a.m. local time. The base has closed the airfield and said all inbound planes are being diverted.

The Air Force and NASA conduct test flights of new and developmental aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base.

The B-52 Stratofortress -- which typically carries a crew of five -- is a long-range bomber first introduced in the 1950s that remains a central part of the U.S. military's air power. Built by Boeing, the aircraft is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons over long distances and has been used in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to operations in the Iran war.

A B-52H Stratofortress departs Edwards Air Force Base, June 25, 2025.
Chase Kohler/USAF, FILES

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/air-force-52-bomber-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff/story?id=133899844

Heard this on the radio as a breaking news.

Article updated.

Original article -

June 15, 2026, 3:16 PM

An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, the base said.

"Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing," the base said in a statement. The Air Force and NASA conduct test flights of new and developmental aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base.

The B-52 Stratofortress -- which typically carries a crew of five -- is a long-range bomber first introduced in the 1950s that remains a central part of the U.S. military's air power. Built by Boeing, the aircraft is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons over long distances and has been used in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to operations in the Iran war.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

32 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Air Force B-52 bomber crashes shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California [View all] BumRushDaShow Jun 15 OP

Just saw something about new Rolls Royce engines being fitted to the B52s displacedvermoter Jun 15 #1

CNN has a video... 2naSalit Jun 15 #4

Probably a different kind of test caraher Jun 15 #11

Those planes are all 60+ years old. displacedvermoter Jun 15 #15

This flight apparently was a test of an upgraded radar system caraher Jun 15 #16

Could be. The point of that retrofit is Bluetus Jun 16 #20

Very interesting, thank you... displacedvermoter Jun 16 #25

They are impressive, and flying any craft productively for 100 years is mind-boggling Bluetus Jun 16 #30

Navy doesn't have any 60 year old warships or subs, displacedvermoter Jun 16 #31

This would never be allowed with commercial airlines Bluetus Jun 16 #32

419th Flight Test Squadron LudwigPastorius Jun 15 #2

I was looking at a local LA station's video feed of the base and runways BumRushDaShow Jun 15 #3

Truly disintegrated. 2naSalit Jun 15 #5

I saw that all 12 aboard died---correction, 8. C Moon Jun 15 #17

I posted a news piece about it... 2naSalit Jun 15 #18

Yes, very sad. C Moon Jun 15 #19

Yep...and it said a normal crew of five. This one had eight aboard. Bengus81 Jun 16 #22

Engineers testing the new equipment, trainers displacedvermoter Jun 16 #26

Damn irisblue Jun 15 #6

Holy crap! Strength to all affected! electric_blue68 Jun 15 #7

Odd that the U.S. would lose a long range strategic bomber the same day as Russia OnlinePoker Jun 15 #8

These airframes are so old I'm suprised sdfernando Jun 15 #9

Right. And now they are trying to extend them to 2050 (that's right at 100 years of service) Bluetus Jun 16 #21

8 crew members believed dead after B-52 bomber crashes at California's Edwards Air Force Base chowder66 Jun 15 #10

‪@meidastouch.com‬ � 24m TRAGIC NEWS: Eight crew members are believed to have been killed after a U.S. Air Force B-52 riversedge Jun 15 #12

💔💔💔 ultralite001 Jun 15 #13

""Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable," the base said." riversedge Jun 15 #14

B52-s were stationed in Wichita at McConnell for decades when it was a SAC base. Bengus81 Jun 16 #23

They would often fly in to what became Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst BumRushDaShow Jun 16 #24

They don't make 'em like that anymore..... JohnnyRingo Jun 16 #27

I have to ask this question... ColoradoHoosier Jun 16 #28

Since they are designed for long haul trips BumRushDaShow Jun 16 #29