Video footage captured the rise of thick, dark smoke from an area near an airstrip approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert following a crash.
The Boeing company confirmed that two of its employees were among the eight fatal victims of the B-52 bomber that crashed during a test journey in the Mojave Desert. NBC4 News’ Keenan Willard had the details in his report on June 15, 2026.
A B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off for a routine test mission Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident resulted in the death of eight individuals, according to information from military authorities.
The event was reported around 11:20 am, at the isolated air base, which is about 160 kilometers north of Los Angeles. An official note released by the base on Monday afternoon confirmed that eight occupants were on board the aircraft during the experimental mission.
“Initial evidence indicates that the accident offered no chance of survival,” the statement said. “Emergency teams are on scene, and authorities are committed to locating all people involved.”
Colonel James Hayes, deputy commander of the base’s 412th Test Wing, declared at a press conference that “We lost eight great Americans” in the incident. Boeing later confirmed that two of its employees were among the eight occupants who died on board.
New video footage revealed the presence of black smoke rising from an area adjacent to the airfield, which was promptly closed. All aircraft scheduled to land at the base were redirected, according to facility authorities.
Precise details about the cause of the crash and the identity of the individuals on board were not immediately released. Authorities warned that the investigation to determine the reasons for the accident could last for many months.
Among the aircraft’s occupants were members of the armed forces, civilians linked to the government and professionals from outsourced companies, as explained by the authorities. The military statement also reported that the families of the fatal victims were being duly notified.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, an aircraft that typically operates with a crew of five, is a long-range bomber designed for a variety of military operations. Renowned for its ability to reach subsonic speeds and fly at altitudes exceeding 15,000 meters (50,000 feet), the B-52 has played an essential role in conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and has remained the backbone of the United States’ bomber force for decades. Its presence on test missions, including with Boeing employees, highlights the ongoing importance of developing and maintaining the complex systems that keep this strategic aircraft relevant despite its longevity.
The previous year, a pilot of a regional aircraft flying over the state of North Dakota was forced to execute a sudden maneuver to avoid a possible mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber that was in its flight path.
Edwards Air Force Base, which spans 480 square miles in Kern County, is primarily intended for research, development and testing of U.S. Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components.
Historically, the base was the place where renowned pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947. It also served as the main West Coast landing point for dozens of NASA space shuttle missions, as well as being a proving ground for now-retired orbiters. The space shuttle Atlantis last landed at Edwards Air Force Base in 2009.
