SAIPAN -- A US Air Force B-52 bomber has crashed off the coast of Guam in the central Pacific and there was no immediate word on the fate of the six crew members, navy officials said.

A brief statement from the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam said the B-52H Stratofortress crashed at approximately 9:45 a.m. (0325 GMT) off the northwest coast of Guam.

"Emergency responders are on scene working to locate the six crew members on board. No information is available regarding the status of the crew," the statement said.