WASHINGTON — Rescue and recovery operations continued Tuesday for victims of multiple plane crashes that occurred across several U.S. states in recent days, as authorities investigated the separate incidents involving military and civilian aircraft, officials said.
Crashes were reported in California, Texas, Washington, Missouri and Maryland within a short period, drawing attention to aviation safety. In Texas, bystanders and first responders rescued passengers from a burning private jet that crashed on a highway near Laredo on June 16 or 17, with one fatality reported.
In California, a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base on June 15, killing all eight people on board, according to the Air Force. Emergency responders managed the crash site amid a large fire.
A Marine Corps F/A-18 fighter jet crashed during a training mission in Washington state around June 14, with the pilot ejecting safely and sustaining minor injuries. Local law enforcement and military personnel conducted search-and-rescue efforts in mountainous terrain.
Other incidents included a skydiving plane crash in Missouri that resulted in multiple fatalities and a private plane crash in Maryland where three people were killed, with search operations locating the wreckage near Bowie.
Federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, are leading investigations into each crash. Preliminary reports indicated no common cause linking the events, officials said.
“Rescue teams acted quickly to assist survivors and secure the sites,” a Texas law enforcement official said, describing civilian involvement in freeing passengers from the Laredo wreckage.
Military officials confirmed coordination with local emergency services for incidents involving service aircraft. In cases with survivors, medical transport was provided promptly.
As of Tuesday, operations at some sites focused on wreckage recovery and evidence collection. Details on exact casualty figures across all incidents and full circumstances remained under review, with authorities urging caution against linking the events prematurely.
The string of accidents prompted monitoring by aviation regulators, though officials described them as isolated pending further findings. Families of victims have been notified, and support services were made available.
