Istanbul: Edwards Air Force Base Monday's crash of a US Air Force B-52 bomber in California that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals has become one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in US history. The B-52 Stratofortress went down shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base during a test mission related to a radar modernization program. The victims included two Boeing employees, the plane's manufacturer.
According to Anadolu Agency, while this accident is among the most fatal involving a B-52 bomber in recent decades, it does not surpass several other significant military aviation disasters in terms of fatalities. One such incident was the crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285R in December 1985, which resulted in the deaths of 256 individuals, including 248 US military personnel, shortly after takeoff from Newfoundland, Canada.
In April 1975, during the US-led Operation Babylift evacuation at the end of the Vietnam War, a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transport aircraft crashed after leaving Saigon, resulting in 138 fatalities, among them children, military personnel, and civilian workers. A notable B-52-related accident occurred on January 17, 1966, near Palomares, Spain, when a B-52G bomber collided mid-air with a KC-135 refueling tanker, resulting in seven crew member deaths and the release of nuclear weapons.
Recent notable military aviation incidents include the 2017 crash of a KC-130T transport aircraft in Mississippi, which killed all 16 military personnel aboard. The US military has also faced issues with the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, with a 2000 crash in Arizona killing 19 Marines and a 2023 crash off Japan resulting in eight US service member fatalities and a temporary grounding of the fleet.
Specific to B-52 accidents, a 2008 crash near Guam resulted in six crew member deaths, and a 1994 crash at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state claimed the lives of four airmen during a training flight. The recent B-52 crash is expected to garner significant attention due to the aircraft's role in the United States' long-range strike and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The B-52, first flown in 1954, remains a key part of the US military and is anticipated to continue in service for many years following modernization efforts. US officials have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of Monday's tragic accident.