B-52 Stratofortress Goes Down at Edwards Air Force Base
On June 15, 2026, a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident occurred at 11:20 a.m. local time when the aircraft hit the runway shortly after takeoff. As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the condition or number of crew members on board. An official statement from the base read:
'A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Airfield at 11:20 a.m.'
Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. The situation remains ongoing, and 'more information will be provided as it becomes available,' Edwards Air Force Base reported.
What Is Known About the Crew and Aircraft?
A B-52 typically carries a crew of five. The crashed aircraft was identified on social media as a B-52H with tail number 60-0061. It had arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in December 2025 from a Boeing facility in San Antonio following a radar system upgrade. The B-52 Stratofortress has been in US service since the 1950s and can reach altitudes of up to 15,000 meters.
Edwards Air Force Base is located in the Mojave Desert in Kern County, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The base is home to the 412th Test Wing. Notably, other military aircraft incidents have occurred recently, including:
- On May 17, two EA-18G Growler carrier-based aircraft collided during an airshow at Mountain Home Air Force Base;
- On June 13, a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot ejected after the aircraft went down near Mount Rainier.
Further details about the B-52 Stratofortress crash, the crew's condition, and other circumstances are expected in the coming hours and days.
The B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base raises concerns about military aircraft safety, especially given recent incidents involving other aircraft. This could lead to stricter oversight of military aviation operations and maintenance. Additional investigations into the crash's causes may also impact future upgrade and safety programs for US aircraft in service.
The recent crash of the B-52 Stratofortress adds to a series of troubling incidents involving military aircraft. Just days earlier, two fighter jets collided mid-air during a U.S. airshow, leading to the ejection of four crew members. For more on this incident and its implications for military aviation safety, see details about the airshow collision.