In California, USA, a US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed in the Mohave Desert on Monday, June 15. The bomber crashed soon after taking off from the Edwards Air Force Base, killing all 8 crew members on board.
The aircraft was reportedly undertaking a routine test flight as part of a radar modernisation program when the crash happened. Visuals of the crash show a completely damaged aircraft with fires at the crash site. The crash has been described as non-survivable due to the heavy fuel load on the aircraft and the low altitude when it went down.
#BREAKING: US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff in California. A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, military officials confirmed. pic.twitter.com/4TJfVBRCQB
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 15, 2026
This marks the first loss of a B-52 since 2016. The US Air Force has grounded the affected fleet variant pending investigation. A full mishap investigation board has been convened to determine the cause.
The B-52H, nicknamed Stratofortress, enjoys an iconic status around the world. It has been the backbone of the US Air Force strategic bombing for nearly 7 decades and is a critical part of US nuclear triad.
The crew was a mix of uniformed military, government civilians and government contractors, Col James Hayes, deputy commander for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards base, has informed.
