US B-52 Bomber Crashes in California; Eight Killed
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber carrying eight people crashed shortly after takeoff from a base in California. All aboard are believed to have died.
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on Tuesday shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission. The crash occurred at a base located 95 kilometers north of Los Angeles, California. The aircraft was carrying eight people.
According to a statement from the base, the crash happened at 11:20 a.m. local time (9:20 p.m. Latvia time). The statement said that initial indications suggest no survivors.
Emergency services are at the scene, and officials are working to locate all individuals on board. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched. The base's airfield has been closed, and all incoming flights are being diverted.
The B-52 is a heavy bomber that first flew in 1954, originally designed for conflict with the Soviet Union. Since the end of the Cold War, these aircraft have been repeatedly modernized to extend their service life. The US has used B-52s in conflicts including Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and this year in Iran.
