US C-130 crashes in Afghanistan- Oct. 1, 2015

[CougarKing]

No word as of this posting which US service it belonged to, or the status of the crew:

Reuters

American transport plane crashes in Afghanistan: U.S. official
Thu Oct 1, 2015 6:45pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An American C-130 transport plane crashed at Jalalabad airport in Afghanistan around midnight local time, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[jollyjacktar]

Shit, I hope the crew and those on the ground are safe.

 

[Rifleman62]

Apparently, two on the ground died. FOX News earlier today:

A C-130 aircraft crashed in Jalalabad, Afghanistan Thursday night, killing 11 people, including six US service members.

“It was a serious crash,” a defense official told Fox News. Earlier reports said there were 12 dead.

The official could not confirm which branch of the U.S. military – the Air Force or Marine Corps - was flying the C-130.

The victims reportedly included five contracted civilians as well as the U.S. service members.

There was no immediate determination of what caused the crash.

 

[tomahawk6]

Very sad news.Prayers for the fallen and their families.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Crap - condolences 

 

[jollyjacktar]

Not an update I want to see.  Deepest condolences. 

 

[Rifleman62]

Update one hour ago:

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/10/01/c-130-crashes-afghanistan/73173916/

11 dead in Afghanistan C-130 crash
By Jeff Schogol, Staff writer 8:40 p.m. EDT October 1, 2015

Six U.S. service members and five civilians were killed when a C-130J crashed shortly after midnight Friday local time at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, according to ta 455th Air Expeditionary Wing news release.

The names of those killed have not been released. The Defense Department does not publicly identify fatalities until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

The plane was assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, the news release says. First responders are still on the scene and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

On Thursday, Fox News anchor Bret Baier tweeted that an unnamed official said to expect casualties.

C-130s are used to transport military personnel and cargo.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

 

[George Wallace]

This update:

  6 US airmen among 11 dead in C-130 crash in Afghanistan
By Tara Copp
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 3, 2015

This story has been updated.

WASHINGTON — Six U.S. airmen and five contractors were killed when a C-130 crashed at Jalalabad Air Field in Afghanistan early Friday.

Two Afghans were also killed, NBC News reported, citing a spokesman for the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan.

Four of the airmen were deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and two were deployed from Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., officials said.

The crash, which occurred just after midnight Friday Afghanistan time, involved a C-130J assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, which is part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The airfield at Jalalabad, located about 100 miles east of Kabul, is used only for military and United Nations flights.

In a post online, the Taliban claimed they had shot down the aircraft, killing 15 “invaders” and several Afghan “hirelings.”

However, U.S. Air Force Maj. Tony Wickman, a spokesman for the 455th said, “enemy fire is not suspected as a factor in the crash. There is, however, an ongoing investigation by officials to determine the cause.” He said he could not provide information about casualties on the ground, as recovery operations were still underway.

Wickman said the plane crashed immediately on takeoff. “The aircraft crash site is contained wholly within the confines of the airfield,” he said.

A senior official at the Pentagon said the aircraft hit a ground object as it was ascending, lost control and crashed into a guard tower at the end of the air field. Afghan civilians in the guard tower were killed in the ensuing fire, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because was not authorized to speak about the crash while the investigation was underway.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he was “saddened” to learn of the crash.

“My thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time,” he said in a statement. “I also want to express my condolences to the families of the Afghans killed in this tragedy. We remain committed with our coalition partners to helping the people of Afghanistan build a secure and peaceful country.”

President Barack Obama also extended condolences to the families. “As we mark this terrible loss of life, we are reminded of the sacrifice brave Americans and our Afghan partners make each and every day in the name of freedom and security,” he said in a statement.

Commanders of the airmen  joined in the expressions of sorrow.

“The sadness and shock of this accident will have a profound effect on their wingmen here in Afghanistan, as well as the home station communities,” said Brig. Gen. Dave Julazadeh, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

The four crewmembers from Dyess Air Force Base — the two pilots and two loadmasters — were assigned to the 317th Airlift Group, said Senior Airman Kia Atkins, a spokeswoman for the 7th Bomb Wing.

“This is a deeply emotional time for everyone in the 317th Airlift Group,” Col. Stephen Hodge, 317th Air Group commander said in a statement. “The friendship and camaraderie in the Herk community, especially among our Dyess and Abilene friends, is unlike any other. These airmen and their loved ones are our family, and we will continue to take care of them.”

The two airmen from Hascom were members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron.

“This is a devastating day for our Air Force and for Hanscom Air Force Base,” Col. Michael A. Vogel, base commander, said in a statement.

All aboard the C-130J Super Hercules were assigned to Operation Resolute Support, the NATO-led mission to provide training and security assistance in Afghanistan.

About 9,500 U.S. servicemembers remain in Afghanistan after the administration’s decision earlier this year to keep a larger U.S. force size on the ground to help the Afghan government solidify security gains after the NATO-led coalition ended its combat mission at the end of last year.

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane, which has been in service since the mid-1950s, has been used extensively throughout the 14-year war to move equipment and troops across the mountainous country, which has few usable roads. The C-130J model is the latest version and is the only one still in production. It has been extensively upgraded with new turboprop engines that give it much better performance and allow for safer hot-and-high take-offs and landings on remote dirt airstrips.

The Afghan air force also operates four of the earlier H models.

Three other C-130s have been lost in Afghanistan, all of them in 2002, during the U.S.-led offensive that resulted in the ouster of the Taliban regime.

Stars and Stripes reporters Josh Smith and Slobodan Lekic contributed to this report.

copp.tara@stripes.com
Twitter: @TaraCopp

More on LINK.

 

[tomahawk6]

The USAF crash victims have been identified.No names of the contractors and evidently there were fatalities on the ground as well.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/03/six-airmen-killed-c-130-crash-identified/73285530/



Capt. Jonathan J. Golden, 33; Capt. Jordan B. Pierson, 28; Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Hammond, 26; and Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris, 21, were all assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, according to a Defense Department news release. They were the plane’s crew: two pilots and two loadmasters.

Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, 29; and Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz, 21; were both assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, Saturday’s news release says. They performed fly-away security team missions, guarding aircraft, cargo, crew and passengers, according to a news release from Hanscom.