Eight people were killed when a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, military officials said. The aircraft, engaged in a routine test flight involving radar modernization, went down in a large fireball on the base located approximately 95 kilometers north of Los Angeles.

Colonel James Hayes, a spokesperson at Edwards Air Force Base, described the accident as a “horrible tragedy” and confirmed that the crash was “unsurvivable.” The bomber carried a mix of military personnel, government workers, and civilian contractors at the time of the incident. Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene but determined no survivors could be recovered.

The crash occurred around midday and was confined within the base perimeter, Hayes said. Following the accident, the airfield was temporarily closed, and incoming flights were rerouted. The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range heavy bomber in service since the 1950s, has been continuously upgraded over time. It was originally developed during the Cold War for potential conflicts with the Soviet Union and has been deployed in several major U.S. military operations, including Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more recently in missions involving Iran.

Boeing confirmed that two of the casualties were company employees and extended condolences to all affected families. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and an official safety investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the accident.

Video footage from the site showed extensive damage with the ground scorched and little remaining of the aircraft, underscoring the severity of the crash. Military officials continue to focus on the investigation while managing the response for the victims’ families and the broader Edwards Air Force Base community.