Eight men killed in B-52 bomber crash named

Military officials have identified all eight people who were killed when a B-52 bomber crashed during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. 

Those dead included four active-duty airmen, a reservist and three civilians who were part of a team devoted to keeping the bomber flying for decades to come.

The victims were identified as: Colonel Gregory Watson, 53; Retired Lieutenant Colonel Miles Middleton, 50; Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Estrella, 40; Major Alexander Davis, 34; Major Robert Dee, 40; Major Brad Hovey, 35; Jeromy Smith, 32; and Christopher Rischar, 41.

The B-52 Stratofortress came down shortly after taking off from the Edwards Air Force Base in California, just after 11.20am local time on Monday (7.20pm UK time).

The base said in a statement that the bomber had been carrying eight people during a "routine test mission" when it crashed.

No cause has been determined, and authorities have warned it could take six months to complete the investigation into the incident.

Jeromy Smith, a civilian flight-test engineer for the Department of Defence, had become a father for the second time four months before his death.

Speaking to Sky News' US partner, NBC News, his widow, Lauren Smith, said: "He was there for just a week."

She explained how the crew go through "tons of safety things before they even take off" and explained how the flight was originally organised for Friday but was pushed back.

"I don't think that plane was ready to take off, and I'm so sad it did," she said.

Mr Watson, a weapons systems officer, and Mr Middleton, a pilot, were Boeing employees and the company said their loss "is deeply felt across our teams, and our hearts remain with their families, loved ones and those who worked with them".

In a statement, the commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards said: "They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates."

Read more from Sky News:
Serial killer architect who murdered eight women in the US jailed
BBC to cut hundreds of jobs and review programmes

Indications the plane dropped sharply

The airfield where the incident took place remained closed, but other base operations have resumed, a base spokesperson said.

The B-52 that crashed Monday was taking part in a test mission as part of a program aimed at making the 65-year-old bomber fleet operable through at least 2050.

The aircraft had taken off on a clear day, heading southwest into the prevailing winds.

It flew straight and crashed on the same 15,000ft (4,572m) runway. The compact wreckage indicates the plane dropped sharply.

Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the charred aircraft.

It had arrived at Edwards in December after having a modernised radar installed at Boeing's facility in San Antonio, an Air Force press release said at the time.

The plan was to use the bomber as a testbed throughout 2026 to help military officials decide whether to proceed with the B-52 Radar Modernisation Program, the Air Force said.

For almost a decade before the plane served as a testing platform, it was based in Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

(c) Sky News 2026: Eight men killed in B-52 bomber crash named