Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed and erupted into a catastrophic fire shortly after takeoff at an air force base in California on Monday, officials said.

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

The US Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in 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.