B-52 Crash Probe
Investigation Begins After B-52 Stratofortress Crash Kills Eight in California
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A B-52H Stratofortress crashed and burst into flames at Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 15, 2026, killing all eight people on board. The aircraft went down at 11:20 AM PDT, just minutes after takeoff, sending a massive plume of black smoke over the Mojave Desert. WRTV reports it is the deadliest B-52 crash since 1982, when nine people died at Mather Air Force Base.
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, confirmed the deaths at a 4:00 PM press conference. "We lost eight great Americans," he said. "This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable." Boeing confirmed two of its employees were among the dead.
Eight Aboard a Flight That Was Never Routine
A standard B-52 crew is five people. This flight carried eight — three more than normal. Expert Matthew "Whiz" Buckley, a former Navy Top Gun pilot, told LiveNOW from FOX that the extra crew members were likely specialized flight test engineers and contractors. He said "nothing is routine in flight testing," pushing back against the Air Force's repeated use of the phrase "routine test mission."
Radar tracking showed the plane flying northeast after takeoff, then turning north, before making an abrupt hook to the northwest and diving sharply. The whole sequence lasted less than ten minutes. Buckley said the crash on takeoff could point to a catastrophic engine failure or a weight-and-balance problem caused by heavy monitoring equipment on board.
Jet Was Testing a Radar System Worth Billions
The aircraft — serial number 60-0061, nicknamed "The Spirit of Aggieland II" — was not a standard bomber. It was a dedicated test aircraft assigned to the 412th Test Wing. The mission was testing the Raytheon AN/APQ-188, a new Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. This radar is the centerpiece of the Air Force's plan to upgrade B-52Hs into a new "B-52J" configuration, keeping the 70-year-old fleet flying through 2050.
The radar modernization program was already in trouble before the crash. 10News notes the program reported 17% cost growth in late 2025, triggering a formal "Nunn-McCurdy breach" — a congressional notification required when Pentagon programs run significantly over budget. The loss of one of the Air Force's few dedicated test jets will likely push the program even further behind schedule.
Investigation to Take Six Months, Airfield Still Closed
An Interim Safety Board was formed immediately after the crash. A full Safety Investigation Board will follow, with 30 days to find the root cause. After that, a separate Accident Investigation Board will produce a public report. The entire process is expected to take about six months, according to WKBW.
Edwards Air Force Base's airfield remained closed as of June 16 for debris recovery and runway damage checks. The Air Force may need to convert another B-52H into a test aircraft to avoid a multi-year stall in the radar program. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Air Force Chief of Staff, posted that he mourns "the loss of eight teammates" from "the bomber and test communities."
Families of Mixed Military-Civilian Crew Left Behind
The eight victims included active-duty military members, government civilians, and contractors. Boeing confirmed two were its employees and said it is supporting their families. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said in a statement: "We mourn this loss and honor the service of our Airmen, civilians, and contractors."
Buckley's organization, the No Fallen Heroes Foundation, has mobilized to help the families. He urged the public and media to wait for investigators to finish their work before drawing conclusions about what caused the crash. The aircraft had returned to Edwards just six months earlier, in December 2025, after receiving major upgrades in San Antonio.
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