Eight Killed in B-52 Crash During Edwards AFB Test Flight
Eight people are presumed dead after a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission; initial indications were that the crash was non-survivable. The victims include military members, government employees, and civilian contractors. The base remained closed with inbound flights diverted while officials begin a safety review ahead of a formal accident investigation board, a process that could take up to six months. Authorities have not yet released a cause; aviation safety experts have suggested a possible flight-control malfunction during testing.
