A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert. The crash was reported at about 11:20 a.m., with emergency crews responding to the scene approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

Details of the Crash

Video footage showed black smoke rising from an area near the airfield. Edwards Air Force Base stated that more information will be provided when available. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which typically has a crew of five, is a long-range bomber used for various military missions.

The B-52 is capable of subsonic speeds and altitudes of 50,000 feet and has been the backbone of the United States’ bomber force for decades. The sprawling 480-square-mile Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County is utilized for research, development, and testing of U.S. Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software, and components.

The base has a rich history, including being the site where famed pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947. It also served as the West Coast base for numerous NASA Space Shuttle landings and was a testing ground for the now-retired orbiters. The last shuttle to land at Edwards AFB was Atlantis in 2009.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.