B-52 crashes at Edwards, killing 8
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, said that the crash was deemed “unsurvivable.”
UPDATED 6/16/2026 at 9:37 am ET with new information from a press conference at Edwards Air Force Base.
WASHINGTON, A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed Monday after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing eight people on board the aircraft, according to military authorities.
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards, said in a briefing with reporters Monday that the crash was “unsurvivable.” A mixed crew of military and government contractors were aboard the bomber, according to Hayes.
Boeing, the prime contractor for the Stratofortress, said in a statement Monday evening that two company employees were on board the B-52 that crashed.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the eight crew members who lost their lives” in the incident, the company said.
The crash occurred around 11:20 am local time, and Hayes said the aircraft was supporting a radar modernization program for the bomber. Edwards is located in the desert north of Los Angeles.
Officials are now investigating the cause of the crash, and a subsequent accident investigation board will determine what information can be released to the public, according to Hayes. The process could take “upwards of six months,” he said.
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“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of eight teammates today at Edwards AFB. My thoughts are with the bomber and test communities during this difficult time,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said in a statement posted on X. “I am keeping the families, friends, and loved ones affected in my prayers.”
The B-52 is a long-range, swept-wing bomber that entered service in the 1950s. The Air Force is upgrading the bomber’s engines, radar and other subsystems to extend its service life into the 2050s.
Edwards Air Force Base is a testing hub, where officials can evaluate upgrades and the integration of new weapons. Hayes said operations at the base will be suspended for the time being.
