B-52 on test flight plunged at nearly a mile a minute before crashing, early data shows

Key Points:

• A B-52 bomber crashed during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight people aboard, including military personnel and Boeing employees; the crash occurred shortly after takeoff during a sharp turn.
• The bomber was part of a radar modernization program aimed at upgrading the B-52 fleet with advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems to extend the aircraft's operational life through 2050.
• Limited tracking data shows the plane descended at an unusually rapid rate of 5,056 feet per minute, nearly ten times the normal landing descent rate, suggesting a possible flight control malfunction or catastrophic failure.
• The investigation into the crash is expected to take up to six months, with officials focusing on the rapid sequence of events after takeoff and potential issues related to new testing equipment or maintenance errors.
• Edwards Air Force Base, a key site for U.S. Air Force aircraft testing and development, remains closed as crews work to secure the crash site for recovery efforts.