Eight feared dead after U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashes minutes after takeoff

Eight crew members are feared dead following the crash of a B-52 Stratofortress bomber shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, according to officials.

The aircraft was reportedly conducting a routine test mission when it went down shortly after departing the base at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time.

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The aircraft went down in Kern County, California, according to officials.

Earlier, the base announced the closure of the airfield, with all inbound aircraft diverted.

In a statement, Edwards Air Force Base said initial assessments indicated that the crash was unlikely to have any survivors.

“Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the base said.

Emergency response personnel remained at the scene throughout Monday afternoon while authorities worked to account for all personnel involved in the incident.

The B-52 typically operates with a crew of five, including two pilots, a radar navigator, a navigator, and an electronic warfare officer.

The aircraft is one of 76 B-52s remaining in the Air Force inventory.

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The fleet is expected to remain in service for decades as the Air Force pursues extensive modernisation upgrades.

The nuclear-capable bomber first entered service in the 1950s and remains a central component of the US strategic bomber force.

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