B-52 Bomber Crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A B-52 bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission on Monday, with eight crew members presumed dead, according to Air Force officials.
- The crash occurred shortly after takeoff around 11:20 a.m., causing a large explosion and fire visible from miles away, and emergency crews responded immediately.
- Edwards Air Force Base, known for aerospace testing and home to the world’s largest airfield, is located about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in a sparsely populated area.
- The B-52 Stratofortress is a high-altitude bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons and conducting wide-area ocean surveillance; the specific mission on Monday was not disclosed.
- Local authorities near the base offered assistance after the crash, but the offers were declined; officials emphasized that such incidents have become very rare due to improved safety procedures.
