EDWARDS, CALIFORNIA — A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crashed during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California on a Monday, killing eight people aboard the aircraft. The crash occurred at the base, located in the Mojave Desert approximately 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

The aircraft was airborne for 3 minutes and 15 seconds before crashing. Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft fell to the ground at a rate of descent of 5,056 feet (1,541 meters) per minute. AirNav Systems flight tracking data showed the aircraft turned to the northeast after takeoff and nearly completed a 180-degree turn before crashing on a different runway.

Officials reviewed footage of the crash and determined that no one aboard could have survived. The passengers on board included government contractors, Boeing employees, and uniformed military personnel. Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were aboard the aircraft. Fires occurred at the crash site overnight, and crews worked to secure the area for search and recovery teams. The airfield remained closed on the day following the crash.

The aircraft was supporting a radar modernization program. Boeing delivered a B-52 to Edwards Air Force Base in 2025 equipped with a modernized Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system, which replaces 1960s radar technology. Raytheon designed the Active Electronically Scanned Array system for the Air Force's B-52 fleet, and it provides improved navigation and targeting capabilities. Officials have not confirmed whether the crashed aircraft was the same plane that received the modernized radar system.

Officials stated the investigation into the crash could take up to six months to complete. Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert and former crash investigator, stated the crash could have been caused by incorrectly rigged controls following maintenance, a catastrophic engine problem, or a failure of newly tested equipment. "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 failure, I'm not sure." Guzzetti said.