A massive emergency response is underway in Southern California after a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed and burst into flames directly on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base. The long-range, nuclear-capable heavy bomber went down at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time, moments after lifting off from the main airfield located in the Mojave Desert. Base officials immediately triggered a total lockdown of the installation, closing the airfield, suspending visitor passes, and diverting all inbound military aircraft. The loss of the $110 million Boeing platform comes at a critical time for global strike commands, and military officials have wrapped the site in tight security, refusing to release information regarding the status of the five-person crew or whether live munitions were on board.