B-52 bomber crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, according to the base. The status of those on board is unknown.

The crash happened at about 11:20 a.m. on the Edwards airfield, according to the base. Emergency crews responded immediately, and officials said the situation is ongoing.

The status of those on board was not immediately known, and officials did not say how many people were on the aircraft.

The airfield was closed after the crash, and all inbound aircraft were diverted, according to an update from the base at 12:48 p.m. local time.

Officials also suspended all non-commercial visitor passes until further notice, saying the installation was focusing entirely on emergency response operations.

Images from the scene showed a large burn scar and smoke rising from the crash site near the runway.

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber that has been used by the U.S. Air Force for decades and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons. The aircraft typically carries a crew of several airmen.

Edwards Air Force Base, located in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles, is one of the Air Force’s most important flight test centers and has long been used for experimental aircraft, weapons testing and aerospace research.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.