A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress was involved in an accident Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in California, according to an alert posted by Edwards Air Force Base.
“ALERT: A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m. Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing. More information will be provided as it becomes available,” the base said in the statement.
No additional details on the aircraft, crew, injuries or damage were immediately released. Edwards said the response was ongoing and that more information would be provided as it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
The nightly news said 8 people were killed. Which suggests the pilot did not give orders to bail out. I realize the time was very short, maybe 20 seconds. But, with ballistic parachutes, all could have left the craft and lived, if the Captain had given the order. Very, very regrettable. Sometimes, imagining the order is a necessity and performing a life saving move for oneself and others. Once in a downward trajectory, it should have been obvious to bail out; that close to the ground. Trainers not doing their jobs, it appears. Crew, not recognizing a downward trajectory near the ground and not acting upon this downward trajectory by ejected out. Yes, it is a hard decision. But knowing the outcome of a downward trajectory is always loss of life, the crew should have bailed and their trainers should have told them of this possibility under a downward trajectory near the ground. The Air Force trainers get an F.
Terry: Google “do b 52 bombers have ejection seats” To see how they work.