Summary
- CALIFORNIA: Eight people have been killed after a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in southern California on Monday.
- Boeing said two of its employees were among those killed and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom described the incident as heartbreaking and extended condolences to the families of those killed.
CALIFORNIA: Eight people have been killed after a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in southern California on Monday.
The aircraft was on a routine test mission when it went down at around 11:20 local time. The crash occurred immediately after take-off and resulted in a massive fireball and thick black smoke visible from a distance.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft burst into flames after crashing on the runway area inside the base. Emergency teams quickly responded, and operations at the base were temporarily suspended.
Colonel James Hayes said the victims included a mixed group of military personnel, government civilians, and contractors. He described them as “eight great Americans” and said the incident was “tragic and devastating.”
Authorities said initial assessments suggest the crash was not survivable. The identities of the victims will be released after next of kin are notified.
The base confirmed that all incoming flights were diverted and visitor access was suspended as emergency response efforts continued.
Boeing said two of its employees were among those killed and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The company said it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
Officials stated that the cause of the crash is not yet known. A preliminary investigation will be conducted over the next several weeks, while a full analysis could take months.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the incident as heartbreaking and extended condolences to the families of those killed.
The B-52 Stratofortress, one of the oldest aircraft in the US military fleet, has been in service since the 1950s and is used for long-range strategic missions.
Investigators are continuing to examine the wreckage to determine what caused the aircraft to go down immediately after take-off.
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