A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, June 15, 2026. The crash occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. PDT. Eight people were aboard the aircraft at the time. Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable. Emergency crews responded to the crash site. Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft. Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near what appeared to be a runway on the base. Edwards Air Force Base is located in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The B-52 bomber was on a routine test mission at the time of the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation. According to newsweek.com, Edwards Air Force Base closed its airfield, diverted all inbound aircraft, and suspended all non-commercial visitor passes after the crash. According to gdelt, the B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955 and is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons.