A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert. The aircraft went down at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time.
Emergency crews responded immediately to the scene, and the base was closed as the situation remained ongoing. Witnesses reported a huge plume of smoke near the base, and footage of the crash site showed a charred runway with smoke continuing to billow.
There has been no immediate information regarding whether anyone was hurt. A B-52 Stratofortress is typically flown by a crew of five people.