US B-52 bomber crashes in California: What we know

A long-range United States military aircraft has crashed in the state of California, killing all eight people on board, officials confirm.

The Boeing-manufactured B-52 bomber plunged to the ground at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, officials said at a news conference.

“We lost eight great Americans,” Colonel James Hayes, the deputy commander for the 412 Test Wing at Edwards, said at a news conference, adding that officials were working to notify the victims’ families.

The B-52 crashed about 11:20am (19:20 GMT) on Monday shortly after taking off from the base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert.

Military officials said the aircraft burst into flames as it made impact. Hayes revealed at the news conference that upon reviewing footage of the accident, the military concluded there could not have been any survivors.

Aerial videos showed the crash site, where black smoke rose from a wide patch of charred desert near the base’s runway. There was nearly nothing left of the aircraft. Firefighters doused the fire as other emergency vehicles stood by.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a post on X that it was “a tragic incident”. He also offered his condolences.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Edwards Air Force Base community impacted by this tragic incident,” he wrote. “Grateful to the first responders and emergency crew currently on the ground.”