The U.S. military announced on Monday the crash of a B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber shortly after it took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California.
In a statement, the military explained that emergency and rescue teams rushed to the crash site upon receiving the alert, initiating response and on-field assessment operations within the perimeter of the airbase.
No official information has yet been released by U.S. military authorities regarding the number of casualties or the fate of the crew members who were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.
The B-52 bomber is one of the key strategic bombers in the U.S. military arsenal, typically manned by a crew of five, and is used for long-range missions carrying both conventional and strategic ordnance.
Edwards Air Force Base is located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles and is considered one of the most important U.S. military centers for aircraft and aerial systems testing and development.
A comprehensive investigation is expected to be launched by the relevant authorities to determine the causes and circumstances of the crash, as military circles await further information regarding the crew’s condition and the damage resulting from the crash.