Fifteen Marines, one Navy corpsman killed in KC-130 crash

By Lee Hudson / July 11, 2017 at 8:28 AM

A Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft crashed July 10 in Mississippi, resulting in 16 deaths, according to the Marine Corps.

Federal Aviation Administration officials contacted the Marine Corps when the aircraft disappeared from air traffic control radar over Mississippi. The flight originated from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time, and the incident is under investigation, according to the Marine Corps.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.:

The Marine Corps said in an update that the aircraft that crashed Monday evening was a Marine Forces Reserve KC-130T from Marine Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452, Marine Air Group-49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.  

The aircraft took off from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, "as the squadron was supporting a requirement to transport personnel and equipment from there to Naval Air Field El Centro, CA," according to the statement. 

The crew and passengers consisted of 15 Marines and one Navy corpsman. Since "various small arms ammunition and personal weapons" were among the equipment aboard the aircraft, "an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is at the scene as a precaution in the interest of safety," according to the statement.

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