Eight crew members are believed dead after a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, northeast of Los Angeles, Monday morning, the base said. Officials said initial indications are that the crash was not survivable.
The bomber was on a routine test mission that departed at 11:20 a.m. local time, according to the base. The crash left a towering black plume of smoke and a large blackened scar on the runway, video from CNN affiliate KCAL shows.
The airfield is closed, inbound aircraft are being diverted, and all non-commercial visitor passes are suspended until further notice. A press conference was scheduled for 4:15 p.m. local time, according to the base.
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