Editor’s note: This is a developing story.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed Monday after taking off from a California base, according to service officials.
The aircraft crashed shortly after its takeoff on Edwards Air Force Base, located mostly in Kern County, at 11:20 a.m., per a base announcement released Monday afternoon.
Emergency crews responded to the crash immediately, with efforts to secure the scene ongoing as of 3:05 p.m., according to the statement.
Base officials did not specify the cause of the crash, stating only that more information will be released once it is available.
The Air Force has used the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in various operations dating back to Vietnam.
Most recently, the aircraft flew missions as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, where the bomber carried out long-range air strikes targeting ballistic missile facilities and command-and-control infrastructure.
The B-52 is the Air Force’s oldest bomber in service and could potentially become the first military aircraft to remain in service for a century.
Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military/veteran affairs and more. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024 where she assisted the newsroom in breaking news across Sightline Media Group.