A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, flies alongside a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., after receiving fuel, Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Serrano)
WASHINGTON — A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed today after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base, according to a spokesperson for the base.
“Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said. The incident occurred around 11:20 AM local time.
The aircraft operates with up to five crew members. It’s not clear how many were aboard the aircraft, or their current condition.
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.
