Key Facts

• The crash occurred shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base during a test flight.
• The eight victims included pilots, weapons system officers, flight test engineers, and contractors.
• The crew was part of a Combined Test Force where military personnel and civilians work together.
• The B-52 bomber was on a mission to test upgrades under the Radar Modernization Program.
• B-52s are old planes, with some built in the early 1960s, and are being upgraded to fly into the 2050s.
• The crash was described as unsurvivable despite immediate rescue efforts.
• An Air Force Accident Investigation Board will examine the crash, a process expected to take up to six months.
• Support services have been set up at the base to help families and team members affected by the tragedy.