Edwards Air Force Base in California has released the names of the eight people who died in the B-52 Stratofortress crash on Monday.
“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash,” Col. Thomas Tauer said in a statement on Wednesday. “They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”
Recommended Stories
Their names are as follows: Col. Gregory Watson, 53; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34; Maj. Robert Dee, 40; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35; Jeromy Smith, 32; and Christopher Rischar, 41. Boeing previously confirmed two of the eight B-52 crew members killed were employees of the aerospace company.
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy,” Tauer said.
The names were released following a 24-hour waiting period after all family members of the deceased individuals were notified, per Department of War policy.
“These Airmen were more than coworkers. They were friends, mentors, teammates and valued members of our Edwards and Air Force family,” Tauer added. “Our immediate focus is supporting the families of the teammates we lost and ensuring that all appropriate resources are available to them during this time of unimaginable loss.”
The accident occurred on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base shortly after 11:20 a.m. Monday local time, at which point the bomber aircraft quickly plummeted to the ground.
Newly released flight tracking data shows the bomber descended at a rate of 5,056 feet per minute, nearly a mile per minute, and roughly 10 times faster than the descent speed of a typical aircraft while preparing to land. It was airborne for three minutes and 15 seconds. The crew members were conducting a test flight tied to the aircraft’s radar modernization program when the crash occurred.
B-52 DESCENDED AT NEARLY A MILE A MINUTE BEFORE CRASH THAT KILLED EIGHT
The airfield remains closed until further notice, according to the U.S. Air Force base. An investigation into the crash is underway. The cause is unknown.
The investigation could take up to six months before officials determine what went wrong, Col. James Hayes said. It remains unclear whether the newly installed radar system factored into the crash.
