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Deadly B-52 crash puts focus on engines, controllability as investigators hunt for answers
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The B-52 bomber aircraft first entered service during the Eisenhower administration during the 1950s.
More than seven decades later, the Air Force is spending billions of dollars to transform the Cold War-era bomber with new engines, upgraded avionics and advanced radar systems designed to keep it flying into the 2050s.
That modernization effort was thrust into the spotlight Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California during a test mission, killing all eight people aboard.
The crew included military personnel, government civilians and contractors supporting the flight test mission. Boeing later confirmed that two of its employees were among those on board.
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The crash marks the loss of one of just 76 B-52s remaining in the Air Force inventory. The nuclear-capable bomber remains a cornerstone of America’s strategic bomber force and is expected to serve alongside the Air Force’s next-generation B-21 Raider for decades to come.
The B-52 bomber aircraft first entered service during the Eisenhower administration during the 1950s. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
As investigators begin piecing together what happened, aviation attorney and Marine helicopter pilot veteran Justin Green said the fact that the aircraft went down moments after takeoff is likely to shape the early stages of the investigation.
«Aircraft controllability issue, some sort of engine failure, because they’re in a very critical moment of flight when you’re just taking off,» Green told Fox News Digital. «So I think that’s really gonna be the focus.»
Green, who serves as co-chair of the plaintiffs’ executive committee in litigation stemming from the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia and is involved in litigation related to the January 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River, cautioned that investigators are still in the earliest stages of the probe.
«The key thing in investigations is you don’t make any assumptions,» Green said. «In the early days, you have to really just keep an open mind and really follow the facts where the facts lead you.»
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, Monday, officials said. (KTTV)
The aircraft was conducting a local test sortie supporting the Air Force’s radar modernization program when it crashed, according to the Air Force. Edwards Air Force Base serves as the Air Force’s premier flight-test center, where aircraft are routinely used to evaluate new technologies and modifications before they are fielded across the broader fleet.
The Air Force is currently pursuing one of the most ambitious modernization efforts in the B-52’s history.
The service plans to equip the bombers with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines, upgraded avionics and a modern active electronically scanned array radar intended to improve navigation, targeting and situational awareness while extending the aircraft’s operational lifespan well into the middle of the century.
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The timing of the crash has naturally drawn attention to those upgrades. But Green said the radar system itself is not an obvious explanation based on the limited facts available.
«I think it’s very unlikely,» Green said when asked whether the new radar system could have contributed to the crash. «A new radar system shouldn’t really affect the ability of the airplane to take off safely.»
While investigators are expected to examine every aspect of the aircraft and mission, Green said they are likely to focus heavily on factors that directly affect an aircraft’s ability to safely depart the runway and climb after takeoff.
American aircrews inspect a B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber on the pan at RAF Fairford during Exercise Cobra Warrior 2025 in England. (Getty Images)
The B-52’s age is also expected to be part of the discussion. The bomber first entered service in the 1950s and remains one of the oldest aircraft in the U.S. military inventory. Yet Green said investigators may be more likely to focus on maintenance records, recently installed components and operational factors than on the aircraft’s original design.
«This is a very old airplane,» Green said. «A problem is not really gonna be a design problem. It’s gonna be more of a manufacturing if it’s a new part or a maintenance issue or a piloting issue.»
Investigators are expected to analyze physical evidence recovered from the crash site, along with maintenance records and any available flight data. According to Green, the wreckage itself will «tell the story,» and likely provide many of the answers investigators are seeking.
He added that flight data and cockpit recordings, if recovered, could prove critical in reconstructing the aircraft’s final moments.
The involvement of contractors and Boeing employees on the flight could also raise unique legal questions depending on what investigators ultimately determine caused the accident.
Military personnel generally cannot sue the federal government over injuries or deaths that occur in the course of military service because of the Feres doctrine, a longstanding legal precedent. Contractors are not subject to the same restriction, though potential claims could still face significant legal hurdles depending on the circumstances of the crash and the role of any companies involved.
«Unless the manufacturer does something really off, you know on its own that’s negligent, they may also have protection from any sort of liability,» Green said.
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For now, however, Green stressed that determining responsibility remains far down the list of priorities.
The Air Force has not publicly identified a cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to spend weeks and potentially months examining evidence before reaching any conclusions about what brought down one of the military’s most iconic aircraft.
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WATCH: Dem gov mocked for criticizing ‘tribal’ politics amid redistricting push: ‘Hypocrisy knows no bounds’
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Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore is facing criticism for condemning rising «tribal» politics while continuing to push a redistricting effort that opponents say would eliminate the state’s sole Republican congressional seat.
Moore, a rising Democratic star who is being floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, gave an Independence Day speech in which he described American history as «powerful,» «painful» and «complex.»
Speaking in the Maryland State House, where George Washington resigned his military commission in 1783, Moore proclaimed that «too many feel that our politics has become tribal, that our political system once felt like a gift, but the politics of today feel like a grift.»
In response, Haven Shoemaker, the top state attorney for Maryland’s Carroll County, remarked to Fox News Digital that «Gov. Moore is proof positive that hypocrisy knows no bounds.»
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Democratic Govs. Kathy Hochul, of New York, Wes Moore, of Maryland, and Tim Walz, of Minnesota, speak to members of the media outside the White House on July 3, 2024. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«On the basis of what you would have to characterize as tribalism, he is going to convene a special session of the Maryland General Assembly to redistrict Maryland’s only Republican congressman out of office. Sounds like tribalism to me,» said Shoemaker.
Maryland General Assembly leaders announced they will meet for a special session beginning on Aug. 3 to consider a constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting, affiliate Fox 45 reported. The special session follows months of pressure from Moore and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Maryland Democrats to advance a congressional redistricting plan that would likely eliminate the state’s lone Republican-held district.
The earlier effort to pass the redistricting bill had fizzled out largely due to Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat who called the proposed map «objectively unconstitutional» and expressed his worry that «the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic.»
Afterward, Moore notably did not endorse Ferguson in his primary race despite the senator being one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the state.
After the special session announcement, Moore said in a statement that «for months, I have said that inaction is not an option and we cannot sit on the sidelines while voting rights, fair representation, and the foundations of our democracy come under attack across the country.»
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Senate President Bill Ferguson speaks as Maryland lawmakers convene for a new session on Jan. 8, 2025, in Annapolis, Maryland. (Jonathan Newton/for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
«I appreciate the General Assembly’s continued conversations and the agreement to come back to finish the work,» he said, adding, «My administration will work closely with the General Assembly as they consider legislation to ensure our state has the tools necessary to protect voters and defend fair representation.»
Meanwhile, Shoemaker, who previously served nine years in the Maryland House of Delegates, even holding the role of minority whip, accused Moore of being caught up in national politics while Marylanders are «fleeing in droves.»
«His record as governor is abysmal,» he said, adding, «Since he became governor, almost four years ago, all that he’s done is really tried to position himself to run for president.»
Shoemaker also took issue with Moore’s critique of American nationalism during his July 4th address.
Moore remarked that «today there are those who will use patriotism to justify pulling books from schools and rewriting history until it comforts those in power. In reality, that’s not patriotism; that’s nationalism.»
The governor continued that «nationalism is not an extension of patriotism; they are not interchangeable. There’s a difference, and that does matter.»
Shoemaker responded that «patriotism means that you love your country,» while in his view nationalism «means that your country is exceptional.»
«It’s pretty clear to me that neither Gov. Moore nor the ultra-progressives generally think that America is exceptional, and I think that’s incredibly sad,» he said.
Moore’s comment also garnered criticism from Maryland Freedom Caucus Chair Matt Morgan, a Republican, who said, «In Moore’s world, if you’re a parent concerned about explicit material in your child’s school library, you’re a nationalist. If you question the revisionist history framework of the 1619 Project and advocate for accurate, honest history, you’re not a patriot. You’re a nationalist.»
«It’s a neat rhetorical trick: reframe the terms, and suddenly anyone who disagrees with you is the villain,» said Morgan.
In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, the Maryland Freedom Caucus called Moore’s decision to convene lawmakers for a special session for redistricting «a blatant partisan effort to rewrite the Maryland Constitution so Democrats can gerrymander away Rep. Andy Harris’s seat and silence rural and conservative voices.»
«While Maryland families sit around their kitchen tables wrestling with sky-high taxes, crushing energy costs, and a cost-of-living crisis made far worse by Annapolis Democrats, Governor Wes Moore has decided now is the perfect time to call a special session,» said Morgan.
In response to the criticism, Ammar Mousa, a spokesperson for Moore, told Fox News Digital, «Why are Maryland Republicans so against patriotism?»
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Gov. Wes Moore appears on «Meet the Press» in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Shannon Finney/NBC via Getty Images)
Shoemaker told Fox News Digital that his own county has been targeted by state leaders for «wanting to have age-appropriate material in public school libraries.»
In 2025, the Maryland State Board of Education reviewed Carroll County’s removal of 20 books from school libraries after parents argued the removals violated Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act, which was signed by Moore in 2024. The State Board ultimately upheld the county’s decision, allowing the books to remain off library shelves.
«Fighting to keep filth in public schools and public school libraries, or, you know, even revising history to make villains of Founding Fathers who have made our country great by just pointing out their flaws. That seems like moral relativism to me and revisionism at its worst,» said Shoemaker.
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Shoemaker said that it is policies such as these, along with continuously «hiked taxes,» that prompted him to announce he is moving out of the state at the end of his term. He says he is not the only one calling it quits on Maryland under the current leadership.
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«I’ve talked to a lot of people; most of them say that they don’t blame me a bit for fleeing Maryland, and a substantial number of those folks say that they’re right behind me,» he said.
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Maryland State Board of Education for comment.
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El régimen de Irán enterró a Ali Khamenei tras la nueva escalada de enfrentamientos con Estados Unidos
El régimen de Irán dio sepultura este viernes al antiguo líder supremo, Ali Khamenei, en el santuario del Imam Reza, en la ciudad de Mashhad, al término de seis días de ceremonias fúnebres, en una jornada marcada por un nuevo intercambio de ataques entre Estados Unidos y Teherán que elevó otra vez la tensión en Medio Oriente.
El ataúd de Khamenei, cubierto con la bandera iraní, llegó al santuario del Imam Reza, en su ciudad natal, donde una multitud se reunió para participar de las oraciones y despedir al dirigente asesinado el 28 de febrero durante el inicio de la guerra entre Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán.
La emisora estatal IRIB confirmó el final de la ceremonia y señaló que “el cuerpo del líder mártir de la Revolución Islámica fue enterrado en la sala conmemorativa del santuario del Imam Reza”.
Las imágenes difundidas por los medios oficiales mostraron la presencia del presidente del Parlamento y principal negociador en las conversaciones con Estados Unidos, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; del presidente del Tribunal Supremo, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei; y de Mostafa Khamenei, hijo mayor del ex líder supremo. También se observó a varias figuras del régimen llorar junto al féretro.
En cambio, no hubo señales públicas de Mojtaba Khamenei, hijo y sucesor de Ali Khamenei, quien tampoco apareció durante los días previos del funeral. Desde que se anunció su designación, solo difundió declaraciones escritas y, según versiones oficiales, resultó herido durante los ataques del 28 de febrero.
El entierro coincidió con un segundo día consecutivo de ataques entre Washington y Teherán. Funcionarios iraníes informaron que los bombardeos estadounidenses dejaron 17 muertos. Además, los medios estatales señalaron que uno de los ataques alcanzó un tramo de la línea ferroviaria entre Teherán y Mashhad, a unos 55 kilómetros de esta última ciudad.
Según esas informaciones, el ataque obligó al cierre temporal de la línea ferroviaria y los pasajeros continuaron el viaje en autobuses. Los medios estatales también informaron que Estados Unidos atacó el perímetro de la única planta nuclear civil de Irán, en la provincia de Bushehr, de acuerdo con declaraciones del vicegobernador provincial.
Además, reportaron el impacto de un proyectil contra un cuartel general militar en las afueras de Bushehr. Sin embargo, un funcionario de Defensa de Estados Unidos afirmó que las fuerzas estadounidenses no realizaban ataques contra Irán en ese momento.
Por su parte, Irán anunció la reanudación de los ataques contra objetivos estadounidenses en Kuwait, Bahréin y Qatar. Al mismo tiempo, sonaron sirenas de alerta en Jordania, donde el ejército informó que interceptó ocho misiles lanzados desde territorio iraní.
El ejército iraní aseguró que sus fuerzas atacaron con drones un sistema de misiles Patriot en Kuwait, un sistema de alerta temprana en Qatar y depósitos de combustible en Bahréin como parte de su ofensiva contra bases militares estadounidenses en la región.
Un funcionario de Defensa de Estados Unidos sostuvo, en cambio, que las decenas de misiles y drones iraníes fueron interceptados o no provocaron daños significativos y que no hubo heridos entre el personal estadounidense.
La tensión en Medio Oriente también aumentó por nuevas declaraciones de las autoridades israelíes. El ministro de Defensa, Israel Katz, afirmó durante una ceremonia militar que Israel está preparado para atacar a Irán por “tercera vez” si fuera necesario y prometió hacerlo “con aún mayor fuerza”.
El primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu también se refirió a la situación y afirmó: “Nos estamos preparando para cualquier escenario”. La oficina del jefe de gobierno israelí informó además que Netanyahu conversó el jueves con Trump, quien le transmitió información actualizada sobre “las acciones de Estados Unidos en el Golfo”.
Otro de los focos de tensión permanece en el estrecho de Ormuz, una de las principales rutas para el transporte mundial de petróleo y gas. Teherán insiste en mantener el control sobre esa vía marítima, mientras el paso de buques disminuyó de forma marcada desde el miércoles.
En los últimos días, el ejército iraní atacó al menos tres embarcaciones, hecho que precedió a los extensos bombardeos lanzados por Estados Unidos contra objetivos iraníes desde el martes.
De acuerdo con datos de la empresa de seguimiento marítimo Kpler, el tráfico comercial por el estrecho descendió de forma considerable, en especial sobre la ruta omaní respaldada por la ONU, después de los ataques sufridos por varios buques a comienzos de esta semana.
Como reflejo del clima de máxima tensión, al menos un avión de combate escoltó la aeronave que trasladó el féretro de Ali Khamenei hasta Mashhad, según mostraron imágenes publicadas en el sitio web del líder supremo.
(Con información de AFP)
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