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US Air Force Names Eight Killed in Boeing B-52 Test Flight Crash in California

Victims include four airmen, a reservist and three civilians as inquiry into Edwards crash continues

US Air Force Names Eight Killed in Boeing B-52 Test Flight Crash in California

TL;DR

  • Eight people died in a B-52 crash during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base.
  • The victims included four active-duty airmen, one reservist, and three civilians.
  • The cause of the crash is under investigation and could take six months to determine.
  • The B-52 was involved in a test program to modernize the US Air Force's aging aircraft.
  • The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff and the wreckage was compact, indicating a sharp drop.
  • Edwards Air Force Base is a key site for developmental testing of air force aircraft and weapons systems.