FINAL UPDATE:
UPDATE II:
Puerto Rico National Guard officials today released the names of the nine airmen killed in the crash:
— Air Force Maj. Jose R. Roman Rosado, pilot, from Manati, Puerto Rico – above(Photo: Staff Sgt. Pablo Pantoja/Air Force);
— Air Force Maj. Carlos Perez Serra, navigator, from Canovanas, Puerto Rico;
— Air Force 1st Lt. David Albandoz, copilot, a Puerto Rico native recently residing in Madison, Alabama;
— Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, mechanic, from Canovanas, Puerto Rico – above (Air National Guard photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez);
— Air Force Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred from Carolina, Puerto Rico;
— Air Force Master Sgt. Mario Brana, flight engineer, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico – above (Air National Guard photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez);
— Air Force Master Sgt. Víctor Colon from Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico;
— Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Circuns, loadmaster, from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; and
— Air Force Senior Airman Roberto Espada from Salinas, Puerto Rico.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones.
UPDATE I:
The Washington Post is now reporting that nine souls were aboard the Puerto Rico Air National Guard C-130 that crashed in Savannah, Ga. shortly after takeoff.
Puerto Rico National Guard spokesman Maj. Paul Dahlen said all of those aboard were Puerto Ricans, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Their names were not immediately available,
Ricardo Antonio Rosselló Nevares, the Puerto Rican governor, has released a statement about the crash:
While we are waiting for more information regarding this unfortunate accident, my thoughts and those of (my wife) Beatriz are with the families of the crew…They will receive our support and that of the National Guard of Puerto Rico in this process.
CBS reported that the plane was one of the oldest C-130s still flying, at more than 60 years old.
Original Post:
Several news sources are reporting that a Hercules WC-130 aircraft from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard has crashed near the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport with 5 people on board.
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and was on a training mission bound for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
Images below showing crashed aircraft and local members of Savannah Professional Firefighters Association / IAFF Local 574 assisting with clean up.
Photos courtesy Savannah Professional Firefighters Association / IAFF Local 574
FoxNews reports that “at least five people were killed.”
The aircraft belonged to the 156th Air Wing out of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Air National Guard, 156th Airlift Wing, Unit Banner
It is not known what caused the crash. The Georgia Air National Guard said a board of officers will investigate the incident.
A WC-130 is a weather reconnaissance aircraft used by the Air Force and Air National Guard. The planes usually have a crew of five people, according to FoxNews.
Lead photo: WC-130 aircraft. USAF file photo
