How B-52 Crash Hits Home in Bossier-Barksdale Community

Our community is navigating a devastating, heartbreaking loss. For those of us in the Shreveport-Bossier area, the B-52 Stratofortress isn't just a plane in the sky, it’s the heartbeat of Barksdale Air Force Base and a symbol of our daily lives.

Whenever we hear about these mighty bombers, our local crews are almost always involved. But on Monday, tragedy struck the B-52 family further west.

During a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, a B-52 crashed shortly after takeoff. The catastrophic accident claimed the lives of all eight crew members on board, leaving behind a towering plume of black smoke and wreckage so mangled it was barely recognizable.

The tight-knit flight crew was a mix of military service members, Department of Defense civilians, and government contractors. While the military is still notifying next of kin, some victims have been identified, including Jeromy Smith, a civilian flight test engineer; Lt. Col. Miles Middleton (Retired), a proud Air Force veteran; and two Boeing employees. The Air Force is actively investigating the crash, which marks the deadliest single incident involving a B-52 bomber since 1982.

Even though this happened miles away, Bossier City mourns deeply alongside our Barksdale neighbors. In a powerful show of solidarity, city officials have directed all flags at City Hall to fly at half-staff. We send our deepest condolences to Edwards Air Force Base and the families left behind. Bossier stands with you in this heavy loss.