B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff in California

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert, prompting an emergency response and the closure of the airfield, base officials said.

The aircraft went down at about 11:20 a.m. local time, shortly after leaving the base, which is about 100 miles north or northeast of Los Angeles. Edwards Air Force Base said in a statement on X that “emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing.”

Officials did not immediately say whether anyone was injured or what caused the crash. A representative of the base declined to comment when contacted by BBC News.

Aerial footage showed a charred, smoking area at the crash site, and video broadcast by Fox News showed emergency responders extinguishing a fire in a large burned section of the runway, Al Jazeera reported. The BBC reported that the crash sent a large plume of black smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.

In a later update, the base said “the airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.” It also said all non-commercial visitor passes had been suspended until further notice “to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations.”

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy, jet-powered strategic bomber that entered U.S. military service in 1955. It is designed to carry conventional and nuclear weapons and typically carries a crew of five: an aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator and electronic warfare officer, according to the BBC.

The aircraft, nicknamed “the Buff,” has been a mainstay of the U.S. bomber fleet for decades. NBC News, citing Air Force Global Strike Command, said the nickname stands for “Big Ugly Fat Fellow,” while the BBC said it is partly short for “Big Ugly Fat.”

The bomber can carry a payload of up to 70,000 pounds. The BBC reported that its payload can include hundreds of conventional bombs and 32 nuclear cruise missiles, and that it can fly as high as 50,000 feet and refuel in midair, giving it a potentially unlimited strike range. Al Jazeera reported that each jet is valued at about $110 million.

The B-52 has been used in conflicts including Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Guardian reported it has also been used in recent operations in the Middle East. Al Jazeera and the BBC reported that the aircraft has been participating in operations connected to the current war involving Iran.

Edwards Air Force Base is one of the U.S. military’s best-known aviation test sites. The Guardian noted that Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound there in 1947. Al Jazeera reported that the base is home to the world’s largest airfield and that about 10,000 military members, contractors and civilian staff work at the location.

Michigan Republican Rep. Lisa McClain posted on X: “My prayers are with everyone involved in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base this afternoon.” She thanked emergency crews “responding right now” and added, “Our service members carry the weight of this nation’s defense every single day. We are with them.”