B-52 Crashes Off Guam

(Guam) About 12 hours ago (10:30 AM local time), a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed into the sea approximately 25 miles northwest of Apra harbor. The plane was deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Reportedly, the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. A flotilla of rescue craft has been dispatched, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Elizabeth Buendia.

"We are having an aggressive emergency response effort right now with not only coast guard boats but also Guam fire department search and rescue vessels, navy helicopters and Guam police department vessels," she said.

"And there has been a debris field found right now with boxes and they are searching in that area currently."

Six crew members were on board the B-52.