Four killed in military plane crash in Alaska: air force
(AFP) – 37 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — A US military cargo plane crashed during a training mission at the Elmendorf base in Alaska, killing all four crew members aboard, an Air Force spokesman said Thursday.
The plane, a C-17 cargo aircraft, reportedly crashed into a wooded area about two miles away from the runway from which it took off.
A statement from the Elmendorf base in Anchorage said four crewmembers assigned to the base's 3rd Wing were on board at the time of the crash at 6:14 pm local time (0215 GMT).
"Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation," said Colonel John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander.
"Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process," he said.
The identities of the four were withheld pending notification of next of kin. Three were from the Alaska air national guard and the fourth was on active duty.
The crash comes ahead of the base's popular Arctic Thunder air show and open house, set for this weekend. Planes have been preparing for the show, but it was not initially clear if the C-17 was part of the performance, or whether the event would go ahead after the accident.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell and his wife Sandy issued a statement expressing their sympathies after the crash.
"Sandy and I were saddened to learn of the military plane crash," he said. "Alaskans are very connected to the military and our thoughts and prayers are with Alaska's Air Force family."
source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... owphp_T8HA
Cargo plane crashes at Elmendorf, 4 dead [update]
Joshua Saul | Jul 29, 2010
[Update 7/29, 4:40 a.m. AKT] Adds confirmation that all four crewmembers were killed, statement from 3rd Wing commander, notes Thursday morning press conference.
An Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft crashed on Elmendorf Air Force Base at about 6:14 p.m. Wednesday. The aircrew was made up of four people, three in the Alaska Air National Guard and one on active duty at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Air Force announced early Thursday morning that all four were killed. Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
"Our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of those Airmen killed in this crash. Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation," said Col. John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander. "Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process."
The plane was on a local training mission and first responders are on the scene of the crash, according to an earlier Air Force press release.
The C-17 is a high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport plane, according to the Boeing website. The plane is 174 feet long and has a wingspan of just under 170 feet.
An air show at Elmendorf is scheduled to start Saturday. The two-day event attracts huge crowds to watch performances by the Blue Angels, the Snowbirds, and a demonstration by the C-17 Globemaster. It's not immediately clear if the air show will go on as planned, but it seems likely that some practice will be interrupted by the crash.
The plane crashed shortly after taking off, according to Capt. Uriah Orland, an Air Force spokesman. Orland did not know what caused the crash.
"Any talk of that would be speculation, and we're not going to speculate at this time," he said, adding that a board of officers will investigate the accident.
Air National Guard Air Force officials have scheduled a press conference on Thursday morning, where further details may be disclosed.
source:
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispatche ... ead-update
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