B-52 Stratofortress bomber, which crashed in US killing 8 people, is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber considered the backbone of US Air Force's strategic bomber force. The ₹800-crore nuclear-capable plane can carry 31,500 kg of payload and reach speeds of 650 mph (Mach 0.84). Also called BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fella), the plane has been in service since 1955.