Air Force Identifies Eight Crew Killed in B-52 Crash
Summary
Car Crash Edwards California in Edwards, California: A B‐52H Stratofortress crashed immediately after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, June 15, 2026, at about 11:20 a.m. local time and burst into flames. All eight crew members aboard were killed in the fiery crash. The aircraft was undergoing a test sortie to upgrade its radar system.
Publicly reported parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Col. Gregory Watson | Unknown | Fatal |
| Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella | Unknown | Fatal |
| Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton | Driver | Fatal |
| Maj. Alexander Davis | Unknown | Fatal |
| Maj. Robert Dee | Driver | Fatal |
| Maj. Brad Hovey | Driver | Fatal |
| Jeromy Smith | Unknown | Fatal |
| Christopher Rischar | Unknown | Fatal |
Original reporting
Air Force Identifies Eight Crew Killed in B-52 Crash