B-52 Crash Casualties Identified
Pentagon Identifies Eight Victims in Fatal B-52 Bomber Crash at Edwards Air Force Base
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The Pentagon released the names of all eight people killed when a B-52H Stratofortress bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 15, 2026. The crew included four active-duty Air Force officers, two Boeing employees, one government civilian, and one contractor — all killed when the aircraft went down just seconds after takeoff NBC News.
The bomber, Tail No. 60-0061, struck a secondary runway at 11:22 a.m. PST and erupted into a fireball visible for miles across the Mojave Desert. Edwards AFB Deputy Commander Col. James Hayes called the crash "unsurvivable" within hours of the incident Sun Herald.
Eight Crew Members Named After Deadly Crash
The Air Force identified the victims as Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a Boeing weapons officer and Air Force Reservist; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, a weapons system officer; Maj. Robert Dee, 40, a pilot with the 419th Test Squadron; and Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, also a pilot. Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, served as a weapons system officer Fresno Bee.
The remaining three were Jeromy Smith, 32, a flight test engineer with the 419th Flight Test Squadron; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, a Boeing pilot; and Christopher Rischar, 41, a contractor and flight test engineer. Col. Thomas Tauer, commander of the 412th Test Wing, said the crew were "dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates" Kansas City Star.
Bomber Plunged at 5,000 Feet Per Minute After Liftoff
Flight data shows the aircraft descended at 5,056 feet per minute — nearly ten times a normal landing speed. Just one minute after takeoff, the bomber made a sharp right turn followed by a near 180-degree turn attempt before slamming into the ground Modesto Bee.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, a former FAA and NTSB investigator, said the immediate crash after takeoff points to a "controllability issue." Possible causes include a flight control malfunction, mis-rigged controls after maintenance, or a catastrophic engine failure. The formal Accident Investigation Board process could take up to six months News Observer.
Crashed Plane Was Key to $48.6 Billion Radar Upgrade
The aircraft was not a standard bomber. It was the lead testbed for the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, carrying a new AN/APQ-188 radar — an advanced system meant to replace 1960s-era mechanical radar. The program is part of a broader effort to keep the B-52 fleet flying until 2050, nearly 100 years after its 1952 debut Myrtle Beach Online.
The total modernization budget stands at $48.6 billion. Defense analysts say the loss of Tail No. 60-0061 is a "major setback" that could delay the upgraded B-52J standard by years. The program had already hit a cost breach in May 2025 due to technical integration problems. The Air Force now has 75 B-52 bombers remaining in its fleet The Olympian.
Boeing Confirms Two Employees Dead, Investigation Underway
Boeing confirmed two of its employees were among the eight killed. The company said in a statement: "We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the eight crew members." Air Force Secretary Troy Meink also confirmed the eight fatalities on June 16, one day after the crash San Luis Obispo Tribune.
This is the deadliest B-52 crash since 1982, when a bomber went down at Mather AFB killing nine. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Air Force Chief of Staff, said his "thoughts are with the bomber and test communities during this difficult time." Investigators are now focused on recovering the flight data recorder to determine if the 5,000-foot-per-minute descent came from pilot input or mechanical failure Ledger-Enquirer.
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