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.

SIX DEADLIEST NON-COMBAT MILITARY AVIATION ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

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.

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.

WHAT B-52 BOMBERS BRING TO IRAN FIGHT — AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE WAR NOW 

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.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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.

ATLANTA, GA. – He wasn’t on the ballot, but President Donald Trump‘s immense clout over the GOP faced more key tests in high-stakes Republican runoffs in Georgia and in neighboring Alabama Tuesday.

While the power of a Trump endorsement in Republican primaries didn’t escape unscathed, Trump-backed candidates won two of the three top races, with the one setback coming against a billionaire businessman who shelled out over $100 million of his own money to boost his campaign.

Rep. Barry Moore, a House Freedom Caucus member and longtime Trump supporter who was endorsed by the president, comfortably defeated rival Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper who was supported by some top names on the right, in solidly red Alabama’s GOP Senate runoff.

TRUMP NOTCHES ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT WIN

In battleground Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff, an 11th hour endorsement by Trump this past weekend helped boost Rep. Mike Collins, a MAGA champion, to victory over former college football coach Derek Dooley, who was backed by popular conservative Gov. Brian Kemp.

Collins will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the general election in a race that’s among a handful that will likely decide if the GOP holds its slim majority in the chamber in the midterms.

TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE SURVIVES GRUELING REPUBLICAN RUNOFF

But in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial runoff, the candidate Trump backed, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was also endorsed by Kemp this past weekend, was defeated by Rick Jackson, who ran as an outsider.

Jones regularly showcased his Trump endorsement, but Jackson, who launched his bid in February long after the president had endorsed Jones, repeatedly said that Trump had inspired him to run.

«I just thought, you know, if you had somebody doing business solutions for the state of Georgia, just like Trump is for the United States, I just felt like I would have a major impact on the state of Georgia, and so that was one of the reasons I wanted to get in. I was inspired by President Trump,» Jackson told Fox News Digital recently.

And he continuously highlighted that, like Trump, he’s an outsider and businessman. «I’m going to be Trump’s favorite governor because we’re just alike on the way that we handle business and handle problems, and I want to do exactly in Georgia what he’s doing at the federal government,» he reiterated in a Fox News Digital interview Sunday.

TRUMP ENDORSEMENT FAILS TO SAVE MAGA CANDIDATE

The brute force of the president’s endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past six weeks, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas that grabbed plenty of national attention.

But Trump’s endorsement streak in statewide and congressional Republican primaries was snapped two weeks ago when his 11th-hour endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds wasn’t enough to propel the three-term congressman to victory.

Feenstra was narrowly edged by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by the political wings of MAHA — the acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement aligned with Trump Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Zach Lahn raises his fist in celebration after defeating his primary opponent in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial race on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Zach Lahn for Governor via Facebook)

Trump rebounded last week, as the candidate he endorsed in the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, finished first in a crowded field and clinched one of the two tickets in the race for the nomination.

Meanwhile, longtime Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham did win a majority of the vote in the Republican Senate primary, and avoided a runoff.

Graham, who was endorsed by Trump, was facing primary challenges from five candidates, including conservative businessman Mark Lynch, who took aim at the senator over his support for the war in Iran. Lynch was backed by some MAGA leaders who have been critical of the president.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson speaks to supporters at a campaign stop in Alpharetta, Ga., on June 14, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

A Trump political operative, pointing to Tuesday loss by Trump-backed Jones, noted that «Rick Jackson set a record for spending in a statewide Republican primary. He spent Tom Steyer level money in a state a fraction of the size of California. That’s going to have an impact.»

And the operative, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, also emphasized that «Rick bearhugged Trump. All of his ads and material was about how he’s going to be Trump’s favorite governor. So the race was not really a referendum on Trump.»

Veteran Republican strategist Matt Gorman told Fox News Digital that «Rick was a great candidate. Trump’s endorsement can’t do all the work. It’s a massive value add but it’s not a panacea. Now the focus is on coming together for the fall.»

Jackson was endorsed at the last minute by Sen. Ted Cruz, and the conservative firebrand from Texas joined Jackson on the campaign trail for a runoff eve rally.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

«Rick has an extraordinary record, an extraordinary life story. And I also think he’s positioned to win. And the stakes are too high. This election is a battleground all across the country. We can’t afford to lose Georgia,» Cruz told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

When Cruz endorsed Jackson on Friday, he also supported South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is facing off in a week against Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

Asked if he’s trying to put some daylight between himself and the president on the campaign trail, Cruz quickly responded, «No. Not remotely….The president and I agree on the vast majority of races. What I try to do in every race is endorse the strongest conservative who can win. And typically I get in races late in the race at a time where my support might be able to make a difference and be helpful.»

La presencia de Cristiano Ronaldo en la Copa del Mundo de 2026 no solo marca un nuevo récord deportivo, sino que lo posiciona como el primer futbolista en actividad en superar los USD 2.000 millones en ingresos profesionales. Consolidando su lugar en el exclusivo club de atletas multimillonarios, según reportó la revista especializada en finanzas Forbes Argentina.

El astro portugués, a sus 41 años, afronta su sexta participación mundialista tras firmar contratos históricos y expandir su imperio empresarial y comercial de manera inédita en el fútbol.

En noviembre de 2022, la continuidad de Cristiano Ronaldo en la elite del fútbol se vio cuestionada tras su salida del Manchester United. Una entrevista el delantero manifestó sentirse “traicionado” por el club, derivó en la rescisión de su contrato justo cuando comenzaba el Mundial de Qatar. Según el artículo, esa etapa de incertidumbre se transformó pronto en una oportunidad financiera sin precedentes.

Al iniciar 2023, el astro portugués firmó con el Al-Nassr, de la Saudi Pro League -Arabia Saudita-, un contrato récord estimado en más de USD 200 millones anuales. En 2025, renovó por dos temporadas adicionales. Estos acuerdos elevaron sus ingresos muy por encima de los obtenidos en la Premier League, donde la revista estadounidense calculaba que percibía alrededor de USD 60 millones al año.

Al sumar bonificaciones, patrocinios y negocios extraprofesionales, Ronaldo pasó a encabezar la lista de los deportistas mejor pagados, superando a figuras como Lionel Messi, LeBron James y Tiger Woods.

La publicación detalla que, al considerar todos sus ingresos y sin ajustar por inflación, CR7 se convirtió en el primer futbolista en alcanzar los USD 2.000 millones ganados como profesional y en integrar el selecto club de multimillonarios de la industria deportiva, junto a otras figuras. Su patrimonio neto, calculado en USD 1.200 millones, coloca al portugués como la segunda persona más rica de su país.

La carrera del futbolista trascendió la cancha mediante una estrategia de diversificación de ingresos que incluye patrocinios globales, negocios propios e inversiones. Según Forbes Argentina, su imagen se transformó en un activo cotizado que atrajo contratos con Nike, con quien mantiene un vínculo vitalicio, y más de una decena de acuerdos con empresas como Binance, Herbalife y Therabody.

Su presencia digital domina las redes sociales, con casi 1.000 millones de seguidores en plataformas como Instagram, Facebook y X, y un canal de YouTube con cerca de 80 millones de suscriptores.

El jugador también desarrolló la marca CR7, que engloba desde gimnasios y fragancias hasta una cadena de hoteles de lujo en sociedad con el grupo Pestana. En 2021, inauguró un hotel en Times Square, Nueva York, ampliando el alcance internacional de su marca.

Además, en 2024 incursionó como inversor ángel al adquirir una participación en la startup de tecnología de salud y fitness Whoop, que alcanzó una valuación de USD 10.100 millones tras una ronda de financiamiento en la que participó el portugués. En diciembre del mismo año, sumó inversiones en la startup de inteligencia artificial Perplexity y, en febrero, compró el 25% del club español UD Almería.

Consultado por su fortuna en una entrevista en noviembre de 2025, afirmó: “Mi objetivo era alcanzar esa cifra. Es como ganar un Balón de Oro”. El delantero reconoció que gestiona personalmente sus finanzas y sostuvo que es multimillonario “desde hace años”, según citó Forbes.

Nacido en Madeira, Portugal, en 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo fue fichado por el Sporting Clube de Portugal a los 12 años y debutó en primera división a los 17. Su transferencia al Manchester United en 2003 por US$ 20 millones marcó el inicio de una carrera ascendente bajo la dirección de Alex Ferguson. Durante esa etapa, conquistó tres títulos consecutivos de la Premier League y en 2009 acordó su pase al Real Madrid por una cifra récord cercana a los US$ 130 millones.

Luego de ocho años en el club español, donde ganó dos títulos de La Liga y cuatro Champions League, Ronaldo migró a la Juventus, de Italia, y más tarde regresó brevemente al United antes de su desembarco en Al-Nassr. Su palmarés incluye ocho títulos de liga, cinco Champions League y la Eurocopa 2016 con la selección de Portugal. En el plano individual, obtuvo cinco Balones de Oro y mantuvo una competencia histórica con Lionel Messi.

Desde 2008, apareció regularmente entre los diez atletas mejor pagados del mundo, ocupando el primer puesto en seis ocasiones y cuatro años consecutivos. En los últimos 12 meses, sus ingresos totales alcanzaron los USD 300 millones, de los cuales USD 235 millones provienen del fútbol y USD 65 millones de actividades fuera del campo, igualando el récord anual de Floyd Mayweather Jr.

El crecimiento patrimonial de Cristiano Ronaldo también se explica por su capacidad para optimizar la carga impositiva de sus ingresos. Mientras juega en Arabia Saudita, el futbolista aumenta su margen de utilidad debido a la ausencia de impuesto sobre la renta personal en ese país.

En el pasado, tanto él como Messi enfrentaron investigaciones fiscales en España por uso de estructuras en paraísos fiscales para canalizar ingresos de patrocinios. Cristiano aceptó una multa de USD 22 millones en 2019 para cerrar el caso con Hacienda, según consignó el artículo.

En contraste con otras estrellas que migraron a Arabia Saudita y resignaron visibilidad internacional, la estrella de la Selección de Portugal logró mantener su exposición global y asegurar grandes contratos de patrocinio. Su marca personal permite que, incluso en los últimos años de su carrera, siga generando nuevas fuentes de ingreso y expandiendo su portafolio empresarial.

Así, Cristiano Ronaldo enfrenta el ocaso de su carrera deportiva como el futbolista con mayor fortuna y una figura central en la economía del deporte mundial.