06/16/2026
UPDATE: The US Air Force has confirmed that all eight people aboard the B-52 Stratofortress that crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday were killed, the deadliest crash involving the bomber in more than 40 years.
The aircraft went down on a routine test mission shortly after takeoff, at 11:20 a.m. local time. At an afternoon news conference, Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, told reporters, "We lost eight great Americans." The base had said earlier that initial indications were the crash was not survivable.
Those on board were a mix of uniformed military personnel, government civilians, and contractors supporting the flight. Boeing confirmed two of its employees were among the dead, saying it is in contact with their families and offering support. The names of those lost have not yet been released; officials said they will be made public 24 hours after the families have been notified.
The Air Force confirmed the aircraft was B-52H tail number 60-0061, a jet with a notable place in the bomber's future. In December 2025, it became the first B-52 to receive the new AESA radar as part of the Air Force's modernization program, and it was supporting that radar testing when it crashed. That program is part of a broad effort to keep the B-52 flying into the 2050s.
It is the deadliest B-52 accident since 1982, when nine crew members died near Sacramento, and the first loss of a B-52 since 2016. The cause of Monday's crash is under investigation.
Eight people went to work on a test flight and did not come home. Our thoughts are with their families, their colleagues, and the entire Edwards community.
