All 16 troops aboard a Marine Corps air refuelling and transport aircraft were killed when the plane crashed in a field in rural Mississippi, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Authorities provided few details on what went wrong, or the nature of the Marines’ mission.
The KC-130, an air refuelling aircraft that can also carry troops and cargo, took off from a Marine Corps air base at Cherry Point, North Carolina on Monday and disappeared from radar over Mississippi, crashing in the late afternoon.
“A Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft crashed in leFlore County, Mississippi, on July 10 at approximately 4:00 pm CDT (2100 GMT), claiming the lives of 16 service members,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
US President Donald Trump, in a tweet, said the news was “heartbreaking.” “Melania and I send our deepest condolences to all!” he added.