UPDATE: Eight Crew Members Presumed Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base

This is tragic.

As WLT Report previously reported, on late Monday afternoon, a B-52 bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.

Now in a press release Edwards Air Force Base has shared eight crew members were on board the B-52 Stratofortress and the crash was not “survivable.”

Here’s the official press release:

‼️ Official release regarding today's B-52 crash at Edwards. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and unit members at this time.

More information will be released as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/410V2gqCFv

— Edwards Air Force Base (@EdwardsAFB) June 15, 2026

CNN provided further details on the crash:

Eight crewmembers are believed to be dead in a B-52 bomber crash shortly after takeoff from a base northeast of Los Angeles Monday morning, Edwards Air Force Base said.

Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash involving the B-52 Stratofortress, which left a towering black plume in its wake, the base said.

The bomber was on a routine test mission that took off at 11:20 a.m. local time, officials said, and “initial indications are that the crash was not survivable.”

A press conference is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. local time, according to the base.

The base’s runway was left with a large blackened scar on the sandy runway, as well as some residual smoke, but it was difficult to make out any distinct parts of the wreckage, video from CNN affiliate KCAL shows.

As emergency crews focus on responding, the airfield is closed and inbound aircraft are being diverted, and all non-commercial visitor passes are suspended until further notice, the base said.

The B-52 is one of the Air Force’s oldest aircraft, first entering service in 1955. The long-range heavy bomber, which typically carries a crew of five, can carry as much as 70,000 pounds of bombs and other munitions.

Here’s the aftermath:

BREAKING: A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base, triggering an emergency response.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene as thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage scattered across the desert airfield.

More details, including… pic.twitter.com/JRx3R4ElJW

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2026

BREAKING: Large U.S. Air Force plane, a B-52 Stratofortress, crashes near Edwards Air Force Base in California pic.twitter.com/lbPLcPm13p

— BNO News (@BNONews) June 15, 2026

This is a developing story.

We will keep you covered as further details come in.