B-52 Stratofortress Crashes After Takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base

A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after it took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday. The incident occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time. Initial reports did not indicate any casualties, as stated by officials from the base through a Facebook post.

Emergency responders were promptly attending to the scene of the crash. The B-52, a long-distance bomber constructed by Boeing, is equipped to carry nuclear weapons. Known as ‘the Buff,’ which stands for Big Ugly Fat Fellow, this aircraft has been a pivotal part of the U.S. military’s arsenal since 1955, according to the Air Force Global Strike Command.