LOS ANGELES, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday released the names of the eight people killed when a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed during a routine test mission in the U.S. state of California on Monday.
In a press release, the Air Force said the names were released following a 24-hour waiting period after all next of kin notifications were completed, in accordance with Department of Defense policy.
The victims included a mix of military personnel and contractors.
The crash remains under investigation by an interim safety board. The airfield is closed until further notice, according to the release.
The bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, located in Southern California's Mojave Desert about 160 kilometers north of Los Angeles.
The crew was conducting a routine test mission to support the Air Force's sweeping modernization program for the B-52 fleet, which includes evaluating a new radar system, upgraded avionics and new Rolls-Royce engines designed to keep the bomber operational into the 2050s, Fox News reported.
The Air Force has indicated the full investigation could take up to six months to complete, the report added. ■