B-52 Crashes at Edwards AFB, Killing All 8 Aboard During Test Flight

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., killing all eight people on board. The aircraft, operated by the 412th Test Wing, was conducting a local mission in support of the Air Force's Radar Modernization Program (RMP) when it went down at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time.

Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, said the crash was not survivable. The crew included uniformed military personnel, government civilians and contractors — among them two Boeing employees. Early tracking data, cited by the Associated Press and PBS NewsHour, indicates the bomber executed a sharp 180-degree turn before striking the ground at a descent rate of approximately 5,056 feet per minute.

Investigation Underway

The Air Force has launched a comprehensive investigation, convening both interim safety and accident review boards, with final findings expected within six months. The cause remains unknown, though aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told reporters that the rapid loss of control points to a possible controllability issue — while cautioning that any conclusions at this stage are preliminary. The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber, and the RMP is designed to modernize the aircraft's avionics as the Air Force works to extend its operational service life by several more decades.