A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base at about 11:20 a.m., according to an initial report. Emergency crews responded to the scene as a large fire sent thick black smoke above the airfield.

No confirmed information was immediately available about the crew, injuries or the cause of the reported crash. Base officials had not issued a statement at the time of publication.

The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber capable of carrying conventional or nuclear weapons. It normally carries five crew members and is equipped with six ejection seats. According to records, the tail number of this specific aircraft involved with the crash is, 60-0061, a test variant of the B-52 delivered in December of 2025.

Edwards, in California’s Mojave Desert, is a major Air Force flight-test center. Its 412th Test Wing conducts developmental testing of aircraft, weapons systems, software and components before operational use and throughout their service lives. Base officials had not released details at publication time.