It has an ejection system, but some go up and some go down depending on their position in the aircraft. The two navigator seats eject downwards, they would not have had a chance. Given when the accident occurred (just after takeoff), and that there's not yet been any report on the crew, it's unlikely the other crew managed to eject.

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runjake 10 hours ago | parent [-]

You are correct. Typically, if the pilots run into a critical emergency and have the chance, they'll try to pitch the aircraft upwards to give the navs a chance of survival after ejection, but it's pretty rare that's feasible.

I don't know how it is anymore, but it apparently used to be an unspoken rule that if the downstairs crew couldn't eject and survive, the upstairs crew wouldn't either.

As to why the ejection system is like this? Because the B-52 was originally designed as a high-altitude bomber.

	▲	Steve44 19 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		The Avro Vulcan was similar, the two cockpit crew had ejector seats but the three others didn't. There were a few crashes where the cockpit crew ejected, this being one at London Heathrow. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1956/dec/... > It would be unjust to the pilot and co-pilot were I not to make it clear, in conclusion, that it was their duty to eject from the aircraft when they did. I am satisfied that there could have been no hope of controlling the aircraft after the initial impact. In these circumstances, it was the duty of the captain to give the order to abandon the aircraft and of all those who were on board to obey it if they were able to do so. Both the pilot and co-pilot realised when they gave their orders that, owing to the low altitude, the other occupants had no chance of escape, and they considered that their own chances were negligible