Eight Killed in B-52 Crash at Edwards Air Force Base
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CA – Eight individuals died Wednesday after a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff, according to the U.S. military.
The deceased include Colonel Gregory Watson, 53, an Air Force reservist from Shreveport, Louisiana; Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Estrella, 40, stationed at Edwards; and retired Lieutenant Colonel Miles Middleton, 50, a Boeing pilot from Tehachapi, California. Additional victims are Major Alexander Davis, 34; Major Robert Dee, 40; and Major Brad Hovey, 35, all pilots with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards. Flight test engineers Jeromy Smith, 32, from Rosamond, California, and Christopher Rischar, 41, also perished in the incident.
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones, and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians, and mission partners affected by this tragedy,” stated Colonel Thomas Tauer.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. Further details regarding emergency response efforts and recovery operations have not yet been released.