Los Angeles: Eight people were killed in a B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday. The bomber crashed after takeoff during a test mission. The B-52 Stratofortress bomber went down at around 11:20 am time. It caught fire near the runway. The fire left a burn area. Emergency crews responded. There were no survivors.
The people on board included personnel. There were also government contractors and two Boeing employees. Aerial footage showed a lot of destruction. The crash and fire destroyed most of the aircraft. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site. Emergency responders secured the area.
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, described the crash as a tragedy. “We lost eight Americans “, Hayes said. He said authorities were working to tell the families. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. The aircraft was testing a radar system. Investigators said it could take months to find the cause.
The B-52 bomber was part of a program testing a radar system. This system is meant to replace the radar technology. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been in service since 1955. It is still used by the US military. The bomber is used for long-range missions. It can carry nuclear weapons. Edwards Air Force Base is a military flight-testing centre. The base tests aircraft, weapons and technologies before they are used.
Experts said the crash might have been caused by a flight-control or mechanical failure.. Investigators have not said anything yet.The crash closed airfield operations at Edwards Air Force Base. Incoming aircraft were diverted. Access was restricted while authorities worked at the scene.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink expressed sadness. He honoured the service members, civilians and contractors who died. The accident is one of the Air Force’s incidents in recent years. It raises questions about the risks of testing on military aircraft.
