A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after its take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert on Monday, killing eight people.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Associated Press news agency quoted Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, James Hayes.
The U.S Air Force had earlier said that there was little hope for survivors, with the Edwards Air Force Base posting on social media, “Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable.”
Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the crash soon after the incident.
Aerial images from the crash site showed devastating damage, with almost no visible remains of the bomber.
Authorities deployed emergency crews around 11:20 am after the aircraft came down. The U.S military has not yet confirmed whether the bomber was carrying any weapons.
Operations at the airfield were suspended after the accident, with all incoming aircraft redirected elsewhere. Base authorities also halted non-commercial visitor access to prioritise emergency response efforts.
According to aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, the circumstances of the crash suggested a possible flight-control problem due to the short time in which the bomber came down after take-off.
“I think it was definitely a controllability issue. Now, whether that was tied to an engine failure, a flight control failure, or some new testing device, I’m not sure,” said Guzzetti.
He also said testing new systems on aircraft could pose additional risks.
“A flight test is always riskier than normal operations, so that’s why you have specially trained test pilots, and you should have other safety protocols.”
Guzzetti had previously investigated air accidents for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is one of the U.S Air Force’s prominent long-range bombers, actively participating in major conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the latest military operations against Iran.
The Edwards Air Force Base is a major centre for aircraft testing and development and is home to the 412th Test Wing, which oversees the evaluations of Air Force aircraft, weapons systrems, software, and components throughout their service life.
