A UNITED States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress has crashed in the California desert, killing all eight people on board, according to military officials.
The long-range bomber was on a routine test mission on Monday when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, about 95km (60 miles) north of Los Angeles.
Aerial footage of the crash site showed a huge plume of black smoke rising into the air from a large area of blackened ground.
Colonel James Hayes told a news conference that investigators had determined that no one could have survived the crash.
“Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said.
“This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable and, right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”
Hayes said the flight had been in support of the US Air Force’s “radar modernisation program”, and had carried a “mixed crew” of military personnel, civilian government employees, and government contractors.
“At this point, we don’t have any indication as to what the cause was of this,” Hayes said.
He said that it could take “upwards of six months” to complete the investigation into the crash.
Edwards Air Force Base said in a post on social media that the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said he was “deeply saddened” by the disaster.
“We mourn this loss and honor the service of our Airmen, civilians, and contractors who work every day to advance our mission,” Meink said in a post on X.
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson also paid tribute to the deceased crew.
“The roar of a B-52 is a familiar sound to all of us in Bossier City, Shreveport, and the surrounding region, and reminds us daily of the courage and sacrifice of those in uniform,” Johnson said on X.
“As more details emerge, we mourn alongside our military community and pray for the families, friends, and fellow service members grieving this devastating loss. May God comfort those impacted and bless the men and women who serve our nation.”
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which is typically crewed by five people, is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955. It can carry a payload of up to 31,750kg (70,000 lbs).
Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, the aircraft, each of which is valued at about $110m, has been used in conflicts ranging from the Vietnam War to recent operations in the Middle East.
The crash comes almost a year after the pilot of a regional airliner flying over the US state of North Dakota made an unexpected sharp turn to avoid a possible midair collision with a military B-52 bomber that was in its flight path.