Two military aircraft crashes occurred in the United States within just two days, and there are plenty of questions waiting to be answered.
The first crash on June 13, 2026, involved an F/A-18 Hornet that went down in the woods 55 miles southeast of Seattle, sparking a wildfire emergency.
The second incident involved a B-52 Stratofortress that crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California.
While reports suggest that the F/A-18 fighter pilot ejected safely and was being treated at the hospital, unfortunately, the same could not be said about the eight people on board the B-52, who died upon impact.
F/A-18 Crash Triggers Wildfire Warning, Campers Evacuated
A video of the jet crashing and going up in flames is doing the rounds on Instagram, while people in the comments have questioned why so many jets have been crashing.
According to the post by CNN, the incident occurred during a routine training exercise 55 miles southeast of Seattle. Soon after the crash, fire and emergency crews rushed to the scene to prevent the wildfire from spreading.
They also evacuated campers from the area for everyone’s safety. The exact cause of the crash is being investigated.
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The Naches Fire Department posted an update on Facebook about the area’s closure and the ongoing work post-crash. It read:
“UPDATE – 6/13 @ 1645hrs – The 1200 Rd system on the south side of Rimrock is closed and campers are currently being evacuated out of the area by multiple law enforment agencies. The area should be avoided for the forseeable future. [sic]
“Naches Fire is currently on scene of a down military aircraft in the area of Rimrock Lake. The pilot safely ejected and was transported to the hospital. The crash sparked a wildfire that is currently being suppressed by helicopters and at least one engine from U.S. Forest Service – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Our units have completed structure protection near the Bear Creek cabins and have just cleared the scene. Our tender will remain on scene through the afternoon and will likely return tomorrow morning to support mop up operations of the fire.”
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office re-posted the update, confirming that the pilot of the F/A-18 aircraft sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The statement read:
“On June 13, 2026, this afternoon at around 12:15 pm, we received multiple calls informing us that a military plane crashed into a mountain in our County and the pilot ejected from the plane.
“Our mountain pass deputy made contact with the pilot, who sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. As a result of the crash, a fire started in the area. Local fire personnel are on scene.
“The military has been notified, and they will be sending their people and resources. We will share information from the military as it becomes available. Currently, we don’t have any photos to share. Thank you, Naches Fire, for the information and photos.”
B-52 Bomber Crashes During Routine Test Mission
The other crash that occurred two days later involved a United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress that crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base at 11:20 a.m., in Kern County, located northeast of Lancaster.
According to a report by ABC 7 Eyewitness News, eight lives were lost in the incident. A press conference on Monday confirmed that the victims were military, government civilians, and government contractors.
Colonel James Hayes said at the press conference:
“We lost eight great Americans. This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable, and right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their loved ones.”
Hayes said that the B-52 was on a mission supporting the “Radar Modernization Program.” While footage of the crash is not available, another video circulating online shows the aftermath, with a large fire burning in the wreckage as black clouds of smoke billow into the sky.
“At this point, we don’t have any indication as to what the cause was of this. We won’t be able to release that information, and we don’t have an availability to get that anytime soon,” Hayes added.
UPDATE: 8 crew members killed in B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California pic.twitter.com/xgOdSwA70n
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 15, 2026