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B-52 Crash at Edwards Kills Eight, Prompting Safety Review

6/16/2026

47 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed during a routine radar-modernization test at Edwards Air Force Base, killing eight people.
Emergency crews extinguished the fire and closed the runway following the crash.
Colonel James Hayes said the eight victims included military members, government civilians and contractors.
The Air Force will convene an interim safety board and conduct a six-month accident investigation.

History

Historical Context

On 17 January 1966 a U.S. Air Force B-52 collided with a KC-135 over Palomares, Spain, dispersing four hydrogen bombs and causing two conventional detonations that released about 2,000 curies of radiation. The incident prompted tighter nuclear-flight rules and the eventual end of the Chrome Dome alert program. A 2024 B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base again highlighted the hazards of operating aging bombers.

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Story summary

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed during a routine radar-modernization test at Edwards Air Force Base, killing eight people.
Emergency crews extinguished the fire and closed the runway following the crash.
Colonel James Hayes said the eight victims included military members, government civilians and contractors.
The Air Force will convene an interim safety board and conduct a six-month accident investigation.

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