All eight people aboard the U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber that crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California have been confirmed dead, military officials said.
The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission on Monday and burst into flames in the Mojave Desert. Aerial footage from the scene showed the bomber was largely destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.
According to officials, those on board included both military personnel and government contractors. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the victims.
Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, said investigators determined that there were no survivors after reviewing footage of the crash.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that authorities are working to notify the families of those who died.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials said the B-52 was supporting a radar modernization program at the time of the incident. A full investigation is expected to take several months.
