From Dispatch Room
A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, according to a statement from the base.
Officials said emergency crews immediately responded to the scene, adding that the situation was still ongoing at the time of the announcement.
The cause of the crash was not immediately disclosed, and authorities have not yet released details on the condition of crew members who may have been aboard the aircraft.
The B-52 Stratofortress typically carries a crew of five and remains one of the most recognizable long-range bombers in the United States military fleet.
The aircraft, built by Boeing and first introduced in the 1950s, is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons over long distances.
It has played a major role in U.S. air operations for decades, including missions dating back to the Vietnam War and more recent military operations.
Edwards Air Force Base is a major U.S. military aviation testing facility where the Air Force and NASA conduct test flights involving new and developmental aircraft.
The crash is expected to trigger a formal investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to go down shortly after takeoff.
Officials said more information would be released as it becomes available.
— Newspot Nigeria
