Eight dead in horror B-52 bomber crash after takeoff from Air Force base in California: ‘We lost eight great Americans’

The US military is mourning the deaths of eight crew members of a B-52 bomber that crashed shortly after takeoff from an Air Force base in California.

The plane, carrying military members, government contractors and government employees, crashed just outside Los Angeles around 11:20 a.m. PT on Monday after departing Edwards Air Force Base.

Officials said the plane was on a routine test mission supporting radar modernization efforts at the time and ‘initial indications were that crash survivability was not possible’.

Colonel James Hayes stated at the press conference that the authorities notified their relatives and said, “Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a terrible tragedy and we lost eight great Americans.”

Boeing officials said in their statement that they expressed their “deepest condolences to the relatives of the eight crew members who died in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California.”

The company said: ‘It is with great sadness that we confirm that there were two Boeing employees on board. ‘We are in contact with their families and providing support.’

Emergency responders remained at the scene of the crash Monday evening as rescue efforts continued.

It remains unclear what may have caused the crash, with officials saying the preliminary report may not be available for six months.

Due to the impact, thick clouds of black smoke covered the area in the Mojave Desert.

The track was also left with a large coal scar on the sandy track afterwards and was unusable for routine sailings on Tuesday.

The airport was subsequently closed and all incoming flights were temporarily diverted.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is one of the oldest aircraft in the US Air Force fleet, first entering service in 1955. It has a wingspan of 185 ft; this is almost twice the length of a standard NBA basketball court.

Often referred to as ‘Buff’ or ‘Bug Ugly Fat’, the aircraft can carry up to 70,000lb of bombs and other military weapons.

The aircraft typically carries a crew of five and can fly up to 50,000 feet and refuel in the air.

The current version of the bomber, the B-52H, was used in missions in the conflict between the USA and Iran.

This special version can also carry nuclear-armed cruise missiles and nuclear bombs.

Congressman Jay Obernolte, whose district includes the crash site, said he and his wife are “praying for everyone involved in today’s B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, especially the crew, their families, and the first responders at the scene.”

“My prayers are with everyone involved in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base this afternoon,” said Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain.

A large cloud of dark smoke rose into the sky after the plane crash

The aircraft, which usually accommodates a crew of five, can fly at altitudes of up to 50,000 ft and refuel in mid-air.

The crash occurred nearly two decades after a B-52 crashed in 2008, resulting in the deaths of six Air Force personnel.

The plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Guam while preparing for a flyover during the Independence Day parade.

An investigation determined that the fatal crash was likely caused by incorrect stabilizer trim setting due to the aircraft’s horizontal tail being at the wrong angle.

The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy worked together to locate and retrieve the plane’s wreckage from the ocean floor.

There was no flight recorder data because the aircraft was not equipped with a flight recorder.

Breaking news… updates to follow.