UNITED STATES – Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff at an air force base in California on Monday, officials said.
The heavy bomber was on a routine testing mission with a mixture of military, government and civilian contractors on board when it came down at Edwards Air Force Base, 60 miles (95 kilometres) north of Los Angeles.
Footage of the aftermath showed a large charred area where almost nothing remained of the Boeing-manufactured aircraft.
Officials said the crash was “unsurvivable”.
Colonel James Hayes told reporters at the base that the B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range bomber used by the US military since the 1950s, was on a test sortie as part of a radar modernisation process.
“It took off, and immediately after takeoff, crashed and burst into flames,” he said.
Emergency services responded quickly but soon determined there would be no survivors.
“After reviewing the footage of the crash, it was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable,” Hayes said.
There was no immediate indication of the cause, and a safety investigation has begun.
The crash happened around lunchtime and was contained within the base perimeter.
Following the accident, the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were diverted.
Hayes said the identities of those who died would not be released until all next of kin had been informed, a process that could take the rest of the day.
Boeing said two of those killed were employees of the company and expressed condolences to the families of all victims.
The B-52 is a heavy bomber that first flew in 1954 and was originally designed for war with the Soviet Union. It has received continual upgrades to keep it in service for decades since the Cold War’s end.
The bomber can carry a range of weapons, including bombs and cruise missiles, and has a wingspan of 185 feet (56 metres) and a length of 159 feet (48 metres).
The plane is usually crewed by five people: an aircraft commander, a pilot, a radar navigator, a navigator and an electronic warfare officer.
With a combat range of up to 8 800 miles, the plane is capable of carrying a nuclear payload.
The United States has deployed the aircraft in conflicts in Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently in Iran.
