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Officials on Wednesday identified the eight people who perished in Monday’s deadly U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crash, noting that their focus “remains on supporting the families impacted and our installation team members.”
A spokesperson for Edwards Air Force Base and Air Force Plant 42 said the eight victims included a mix of military personnel, government civilians and contractors.
The fallen were identified as: Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, a weapons system officer; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, a weapons system officer; Maj. Robert Dee, 40, a 419th Test Squadron pilot; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, a 419th Test Squadron pilot; Jeromy Smith, 32, a flight test engineer from the 419th Flight Test Squadron; Christopher Rischar, 41, a contractor and flight test engineer; Lt. Col. Miles Middleton (Ret.), 50, a Boeing pilot; and Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a weapons officer for Boeing and Air Force reservist — whose promotion to colonel was recently confirmed by the Air Force.
The Air Force identified eight victims who were aboard the B-52 Stratofortress when it crashed Monday in California. (U.S. Air Force)
US AIR FORCE B-52 BOMBER CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA
The Cold War-era bomber crashed shortly after takeoff around 11:20 a.m. local time Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, Fox News Digital previously reported.
The crew was conducting a routine test mission to support the Air Force’s sweeping modernization program for the B-52 fleet, which includes evaluating a new radar system, upgraded avionics and new Rolls-Royce engines designed to keep the bomber operational into the 2050s.
Smoke rises from Edwards Air Force Base after a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed in Edwards, Calif., on June 15, 2026. (ALERTCalifornia/Reuters)
As the Air Force pauses flight test operations at the base, the investigation is expected to focus heavily on the aircraft’s takeoff, looking for potential engine failures or controllability issues.
The probe will also likely examine maintenance records, especially after Smith’s widow told local outlet KTLA the plane was experiencing issues on the Friday before the fatal crash, causing the flight to be delayed.
FILE – The crash happened shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California. (Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images)
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The Air Force has indicated the full investigation could take up to six months to complete.
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.