U.S. B-52 Strategic Bomber Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from California Air Base

A U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber crashed in California on June 15 (local time).

AFP reported that the B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from the airfield at Edwards Air Force Base in California at around 11:00 a.m. that day.

According to live reports from the scene, black smoke billowed immediately after the crash, and it was confirmed that almost nothing remained of the aircraft's structure.

The Air Force has not commented on the status of any casualties.

Military authorities announced the news of the accident via X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Emergency crews have responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing."

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that has been in service since the 1950s.

Capable of carrying everything from conventional weapons to nuclear missiles, it has been deployed in conflicts including the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan, as well as in recent military operations in the Middle East.

Edwards Air Force Base, where the accident occurred, is located in the desert 100 miles (approximately 160 km) north of Los Angeles (LA).

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.