A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on March 19, 2026 in Fairford, England. [File: Leon Neal/Getty Images]Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress has crashed shortly after taking off from the Edwards Air Force Base in California, the base said.
“Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing,” the base wrote on Monday in a post on X.
It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties or what caused the crash.
The B-52 Stratofortress is a subsonic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It can carry a payload of up to 70,000 pounds.
The US has used the aircraft in conflicts, including in Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the current war with Iran.
Video broadcast by Fox News on Monday showed emergency responders extinguishing a fire in a large charred portion of the runway at Edwards Air Force Base.
Located north of Los Angeles, the base is home to the world’s largest airfield. About 10,000 members of the military, contractors and civilian staff work at the location.
