Four crewmen were killed Wednesday evening when a C-17 cargo plane crashed after takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base, according to the Air Force.
Three of the crew were members of the Alaska Air National Guard and the other was on active duty at Elmendorf, the Air Force said in an email to the media. No other details were given about the crew or the reason for the crash which occurred about 6:14 Wednesday night.
The giant cargo plane, assigned to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf, was training for the upcoming air show at the base, an Air Force spokesman said Wednesday night after the crash. He pointed out that there were no ejection systems on the plane.
“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 in a statement released early Thursday morning.
“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.”
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