B-52 crashes after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California
What's new: The airfield closed, inbound flights were diverted and officials had not released any casualty information.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert, triggering a large fire and an emergency response that shut the airfield. The base said the aircraft went down at about 11:20 a.m. on the Edwards airfield. Officials did not immediately say whether anyone aboard was hurt. Video and aerial images showed black smoke and a broad charred area at the crash site. Edwards later said all inbound aircraft were being diverted and non-commercial visitor passes were suspended. The B-52, built by Boeing and typically flown by a crew of five, is a long-range bomber that has been in U.S. service since the 1950s.