B-52 Stratofortress Crashes Near Edwards Air Force Base

A B-52 Stratofortress U.S. Air Force plane crashed near Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday morning, June 15, 2026, at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time shortly after takeoff from the airfield. Emergency crews responded to the scene in the Mojave Desert, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The airfield has been closed, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted. The military base announced that all non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended to focus on emergency response operations. The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. Video on social media shows damage to the runway, but the cause of the crash and any potential injuries remain unclear.