8 feared dead in US Air Force B-52 bomber crash

LOS ANGELES - A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert on Monday, with no survivors reported, the base said.

The aircraft took off at 11:20 am local time and was on a routine test mission, the base said on X.

"Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable," the base said.

Emergency response teams have been dispatched to the scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel involved.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The base said the airfield has been closed and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.

All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus fully on emergency response operations, said the base.