The aircraft crashed at California's Edwards Air Force base. An investigation is now underway into the cause of the disaster.

Edwards Air Force Base said emergency responders were on the scene.

A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber has crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California

An official said an investigation could take up to six months and noted the B-52 in question was involved in a "radar modernization program."

Eight people were killed after a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert on Monday.