B-52 bomber crashes shortly after takeoff at California's Edwards Air Force Base

5 hours ago

A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert on Monday morning.
Emergency crews responded immediately; the airfield is closed, and inbound flights are being diverted.
The condition of the crew and the number of people on board have not been disclosed.
The B-52 Stratofortress, first entering service in 1955, is one of the Air Force's oldest aircraft.
The currently flown B-52H version can carry nuclear bombs and cruise missiles and remains a key part of the Air Force's arsenal.
The most recent fatal B-52 crash before Monday was in 2008, killing six personnel off the coast of Guam.
The B-52 is no longer in production; replacements come from dismantled airframes stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The Air Force is upgrading the B-52 fleet, including a new engine initiative costing an estimated $48.6 billion.

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