A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, June 15, 2026, at approximately 11:20 a.m. Emergency crews responded immediately to the scene, and the situation remains ongoing, according to base officials.
Aerial footage captured by local news shows a large, smoldering burn mark on the ground near the runway. The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range, heavy, jet-powered strategic bomber built by Boeing, has been a cornerstone of U.S.
strategic bombing capabilities for decades. Edwards Air Force Base, located in the western Mojave Desert about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Kern County, is a major testing and training facility.
No further information about the crew, casualties, or the cause of the crash has been released at this time. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more details become available.