LOS ANGELES – According to U.S. Air Force officials, the aircraft was conducting a routine test mission in support of a radar systems upgrade programme when it crashed on the runway and burst into flames. All eight individuals on board were killed in the accident.

Colonel James Hayes said those on board included military personnel, civilian employees and government contractors. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

Aerial footage from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky, while a large section of desert terrain appeared scorched by the ensuing fire. The crash site is located approximately 161 kilometres north of Los Angeles.

The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the U.S. Air Force’s most prominent long-range strategic bombers and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.

The incident marks the first reported crash involving a B-52 since 2016, when a similar aircraft went down in Guam. In that accident, all crew members survived.