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As Mourning Begins, Deadly B-52 Crash Highlights Age of Bomber Fleet
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Jeromy Smith, a 32-year-old flight test engineer at Edwards Air Force Base, died in a B-52 bomber crash during a routine test flight, along with all seven other crew members.
- The crash occurred shortly after takeoff and caused a large fire visible across the Mojave Desert; the cause is under investigation and may take up to six months to determine.
- The B-52 bomber involved was part of an Air Force upgrade program aimed at modernizing its radar and avionics systems, as the aircraft is known for its age despite reliability.
- Smith, a civilian Defense Department employee and father of two young children, had recently returned from paternity leave before the scheduled test flight.
- His wife, Lauren Smith, noted that Jeromy was passionate about aeronautics but always aware of the inherent risks of frequent military test flights.
