'Unsurvivable': 8 dead after Air Force B-52 bomber crash in California

( USA Today )

Eight people are presumed dead after a United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress "crashed and burst into flames" shortly after takeoff Monday, June 15, in California, military officials said.

The massive military aircraft went down at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California around 11:20 a.m. local time. Base officials said the people on board were a mix of military personnel and civilian contractors.

"We lost eight great Americans. This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable" Col. James Hayes, a base deputy commander, told reporters Monday afternoon at Edwards. He added the plane "immediately after takeoff crashed and burst into flames."

The immediate cause of the crash was not known. Hayes estimated the investigation would take about six months. He said the flight was a test mission in support of a radar modernization program. The commander said the names of the deceased would not be released until family have been notified.

Base officials added that more information will be released as the investigation continues. Officials said "our thoughts and prayers are with the families and unit members at this time."

In an updated post just before 1 p.m. PT, the base announced the airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft was being diverted.

"All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations," the base wrote.

The Pentagon confirmed the crash to USA TODAY without elaborating on what led up to the incident.

First fatal B-52 Stratofortress crash on US soil in decades

The last time a fatal accident involving a B-52 Stratofortress occurred in the U.S. was on June 24, 1994, when a practice flight conducted in advance of an air show at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, stalled while performing dangerous maneuvers at low altitude, according to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.

Investigators later determined that pilot Lt. Col. Arthur "Bud" Holland, whose previous practice flights had included steep bank angles and low altitude passes that violated numerous regulations, attempted a series of bank turns and other maneuvers against orders. He and three crew members were all killed.

The investigation, according to the archives, cited several factors contributed to the tragedy including Holland's disregard of procedures, the failure of superiors to take previous action and the inadequate preparation of crew members aboard the doomed plane. 

In 2015, footage of the crash was used in a trailer for Project Almanac, a movie produced by Michael Bay. The ensuing outcry from families of two crash victims prompted Paramount Pictures to remove the shot and an apology from Bay.

In 2016, a B-52 crashed during takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, catching fire. All seven crew members escaped without injury.

Where is Edwards Air Force Base?

The base, spread across parts of Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernadino counties, is located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

California leaders grieve

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state leaders issued statements mourning the people lost in the crash.

"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Edwards Air Force Base community impacted by this tragic incident," Newsom said in a statement Monday evening. "Grateful to the first responders and emergency crew currently on the ground."

Sen. Adam Schiff, the state's junior U.S. senator, said "My heart is broken for the families of the servicemembers involved in this devastating crash today at Edwards Air Force Base, and I join all of California in mourning this tragic loss of life. We hold their families in our prayers."

In a statement on X, Rep. Vince Fong, R-California, asked the nation to pray for the crew and "the entire Edwards community." His post included a photo of a large plume of black smoke erupting from a field.

What is a B-52 Stratofortress?

According to information from the Air Force Global Strike Command, the B-52 Stratofortress is a long-haul heavy bomber that can reach subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet.

"It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordinance with worldwide precision navigation capability," an online military fact sheet reads.

According to military archives reviewed by USA TODAY, the last crash at the base took place on May 18, 1992 when a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise crashed during landing, killing two crew members on board. Seven passengers also suffered serious injuries.

The aircraft was completing a liaison from China Lake, an unincorporated community in Kern County, for the U.S. Navy when on final approach it hit the ground.

The history of Edwards Air Force Base

Many of mankind's historic achievements in aviation have taken place over a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert known as Edwards Air Force Base, and continue to this day.

Edwards Air Force Base was established in 1942 at what was then known as the Muroc Dry Lake and has since steadily grown to more than 300,000 acres in size, or 470 square miles, retired Air Force Lt. Col. and 412th Test Wing spokesman Mike Paoli said.

The base functions as a town with more than 11,000 residents, consisting of roughly 20% military personnel and 80% civilians, he said.