2026 United States Air Force Boeing B-52 crash

2026 United States Air Force Boeing B-52 crash
60-0061, the aircraft involved in the accident, at Edwards Air Force Base in 2025
60-0061, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2025
Accident
DateJune 15, 2026 (2026-06-15)
SummaryCrashed shortly after takeoff; under investigation
Site
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing B-52H Stratofortress
OperatorUnited States Air Force
Call signTORCH 11
Registration60-0061
Flight originEdwards Air Force Base, Edwards, California, United States
Occupants8
Crew8
Fatalities8
Survivors0

On June 15, 2026, a United States Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed shortly after takeoff near Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, California, United States.[1][2] All eight crew members were killed.[3]

The accident was the first crash of a B-52 since 2016, when one crashed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, injuring the seven crew members.[4][5] It is also the deadliest crash of a B-52 since 1982, when one crashed at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento County, California, killing all nine crew members.[6]

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the accident was 60-0061, a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress operated by the United States Air Force, and assigned to the 412th Test Wing.[7] 60-0061 was operated by the 307th Bomb Wing in the mid-2010s, where it was nicknamed The Spirit of Aggieland II.[8] In December 2025, Edwards Air Force Base said the aircraft had flown from Port San Antonio to the base after receiving an upgraded radar system as part of an ongoing modernization program.[9]

Passengers and crew

The aircraft was carrying eight people, including military personnel, civilians and contractors, on a routine test mission.[10][11] Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the occupants.[12][13] The flight was intended to support an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar modernization program.[14][15]

Accident

The crash generated a large plume of smoke visible on satellite imagery (CIRA image pictured)

The crash was reported at 11:20 a.m. PDT.[16] Photos from the scene showed little recognizable wreckage after a post-crash fire, and video footage showed a large plume of black smoke rising from the crash site.[12][17]

Aftermath

Shortly before 1:00 p.m., the base announced that the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted. All non-commercial visitor passes for the base were suspended in order to minimize interference with the emergency response.[18] The crash was later deemed "not survivable",[19] and Air Force Materiel Command Commander Lieutenant general Linda Hurry confirmed the death of all 8 personnel on board the aircraft.[20] In a separate statement, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Kenneth S. Wilsbach expressed his sorrows and thoughts with the bomber and testing community, saying that he is "keeping the families, friends, and loved ones affected in my prayers."[21]

Investigation

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Colonel James Hayes, Deputy Commander of the 412th Test Wing, said the investigation could take an estimated six months.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Martinez, Luis (June 15, 2026). "Air Force B-52 bomber crashes shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California". ABC News. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ "B-52 bomber plane crashes after take off in California". BBC News. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  3. ↑ "8 crew members dead in a B-52 bomber crash at California's Edwards Air Force Base". CNN. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ "American B-52 bomber crashes in Guam". BBC News. May 19, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  5. ↑ Martignetti, Edward F. (January 26, 2017). "Executive Summary". United States Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board Report (PDF) (Report). United States Air Force. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2022 – via Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.
  6. ↑ "Crash of a Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress at Mather AFB: 9 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
     • "Accident Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress 57-6482, 16 Dec 1982". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ Ranter, Harro (June 15, 2026). "Incident Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0061, Monday 15 June 2026". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Spirit of Aggieland". 307th Bomb Wing. July 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 17, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ↑ Pope, Stephen (June 15, 2026). "B-52 crashes shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base". AeroTime. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ Officials give update on B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force Base. KABC-TV. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "B-52 crashes at Edwards Air Force Base". Edwards Air Force Base. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Eight dead after US B-52 bomber crashes shortly after take-off from base in California". Sky News. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Statement about B-52 accident at Edwards Air Force Base" (Press release). Boeing. June 15, 2026. Archived from the original on June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ D'Urso, Stefano; Cenciotti, David (June 15, 2026). "Breaking: B-52 Stratofortress Bomber Crashed at Edwards AFB". The Aviationist. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  15. ↑ "US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes in California, killing all 8 crew aboard". Reuters. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lloyd, Jonathan (June 15, 2026). "B-52 Stratofortress crashes after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base". KNBC. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  17. ↑ "B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California". KTLA. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Eight people dead after US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes in California". BBC News. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ "B-52 bomber plane crashes after takeoff at U.S. Air Force base in California". CTV News. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  20. ↑ "B-52 crashes at Edwards Air Force Base | Air Force Materiel Command | 11 comments". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  21. ↑ Wilsbach, Kenneth S. [@OfficialCSAF] (June 16, 2026). "It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of eight teammates today at Edwards AFB. My thoughts are with the bomber and test communities during this difficult time. I am keeping the families, friends, and loved ones affected in my prayers" (Tweet). Retrieved June 16, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  22. ↑ "'Unsurvivable': 8 dead after Air Force B-52 bomber crash in California". USA Today. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
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