---
title: "B-52 bomber carrying 8 crashes at Edwards Air Force Base"
description: "Emergency crews have responded to the scene of the crash at the home of Air Force flight testing, base officials said."
date: "2026-06-15"
modified: "2026-06-15"
authors:
  - name: "Jeff Schogol"
    job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-b52-crash-2026/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Around the World"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
  - "United States"
---

# B-52 bomber carrying 8 crashes at Edwards Air Force Base

![B-52](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Edwards-Air-Force-Base-B-52.jpg>)
*A B-52H Stratofortress from Edwards Air Force Base, California, departs for an evening test mission on Aug. 7, 2025. Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth.*

A B-52 Stratofortress bomber carrying eight people onboard crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the base posted on social media.

“Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the 412th Test Wing said in a [statement](<https://www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase/posts/pfbid02sad2UMsgKJ5SctnHhXHtCY9jukdRQAyu7UCYRqmMxKuzgn4friDZ47gBh2SueupKl>) shortly after 3 p.m. PDT. “Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel.”

The crash took place at 11:20 a.m. PDT, according to Edwards Air Force Base. The 412th Test Wing said that the B-52 was on a “routine test mission” and that the crash is currently under investigation.

The crash is the latest in string of military flight mishaps in recent weeks.

Two[ Navy EA-18G Growlers collided midair](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-pilots-growler-miracle.md>) during an airshow at Mountain Home Air Force Base on May 17. On June 13, a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet[ crashed near Mount Rainier](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-fa-18-crash-washington.md>) during a training flight, with the pilot ejecting.

Last year a[ B-52 doing a low-level pass over a North Dakota fairground](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-b52-minot-skywest.md>) forced a civilian plane to make sharp turns to avoid the bomber.

*This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.*

***Update: 6/15/2026;** This article was updated with the 412th Test Wing's latest statement on the crash.*

## Author
Jeff Schogol is the former senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reported on both the Department of Defense as a whole and individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jdschogol/>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-schogol-188a9317/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JeffSchogol>)