8 Dead as B-52 Bomber Crashes in California

LOS ANGELES - Eight people, including two Boeing employees, were killed when a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed immediately after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in southern California.

The huge plane crashed Monday while the aircraft was on a routine test mission. The crash sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.

"Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a terrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans",said Colonel James Hayes said. The crash was "totally contained" within the Edwards Air Force Base on the runway, Hayes said, and the base temporarily grounded operations.

The B-52 was supporting the base's radar modernization programme, he said, and crashed immediately after takeoff and burst into flames. After reviewing initial footage, the incident was deemed "an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable", Hayes said.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been used by the US military since the 1950s. It is nicknamed "the Buff", short for "Big Ugly Fat Fella". The B-52 is a long-range strategic bomber that has been participating in bombing raids during the US and Israel's war in Iran.
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