Posted on 03/31/2005 2:59:07 PM PST by Truth666
A U.S. military airplane crashed in central Albania while on a training mission Thursday, and all nine people aboard were believed to have been killed, the Defense Ministry said.
PRayers lifted. Darn.
Their families are in my prayers. I hope they rest in peace. I thank the Men and Women who serve our nation, and pray for their safety everyday.
prayer bump
A US military plane with nine people on board has crashed in central Albania.
There are believed to be no survivors in the crash near the town of Gramsh, some 80km (50 miles) south-east of Tirana, Albanian officials say.
The plane hit a mountain after apparently flying too low in the uninhabited region, reports say.
The aircraft was taking part in joint exercises with the Albanian military, an Albanian defence ministry spokesman told the Associated Press news agency.
What tactical jet has a crew of 9 and flies at low altitude?
Surely we didn't lose a Buff
C 130
C-130 is a four engine turbo-prop. The news reports could be wrong, but they referred to a jet.
4 Bodies recovered in Albania plane crash
http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/HP10104011116.jpeg
TIRANA, Albania Apr 1, 2005 — Search teams recovered four bodies Friday from the wreckage of a U.S. military aircraft that crashed in mountainous southern Albania, and were looking for five missing crew members, authorities said.
The C-130 airplane was taking part in a joint exercise with Albanian forces when it crashed Thursday night near the remote village of Rovie, in the Drizez Mountains, 60 miles southeast of the Balkan country's capital, Tirana. The dead were all American, said Albanian army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Pellumb Qazimi.
"If there are survivors we would have learned it by now," said Defense Ministry spokesman Agim Doci.
The U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, said the cause if the crash was being investigated but did not comment on the fate of the crew, saying the "status of the individuals on board is yet to be determined." It said the military transport was assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group, at Mildenhall in England.
Albania, seeking eventual membership of NATO, has close ties to the U.S. military. It backed the American-led campaign in Iraq, where it has deployed a small unit of 71 troops. Albania also has peacekeeping contingents Afghanistan in nearby Bosnia.
US finds Albania air crash bodies
Albanian and US rescuers have recovered four bodies from the wreckage of a US military plane that crashed with nine people on board in central Albania.
The C-130 transport plane hit Driza Mountain, about 100km (60 miles) south-east of the capital Tirana.
The search continues for the other five bodies. The dead were all Americans.
The plane was on a joint exercise with the Albanian military when it crashed on Thursday evening. The crew were based at RAF Mildenhall in the UK.
Major Sarah Strachan, from the United States European Command in Germany, told BBC News: "I have no confirmation at this time of the status of the individuals that were on this aircraft.
Night training mission
"There were nine US military members that were on board the US MC130H aircraft," he said.
"We have a US and Albanian search and rescue team at the crash site.
"The Albanian government and military personnel have been superb.
"They've helped assist in the rescue operations and been extremely co-operative."
He said the US Air Force had started an investigation into the cause of the accident.
"The aircraft was on a night training mission conducting joint combined exchange training with the Albanian military," said Major Strachan.
"Joint combined exchange training is a regular programme that special operations command Europe conducts throughout many countries in our area of responsibility.
"In this case it was a unit from the 352nd special operations group out of RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, that was doing some training with the Albanian military.
"The commander of the 352nd special operations group has been working very closely with his staff and family members to get as much information out quickly and to make sure that people have the appropriate support.
"Obviously it's a horrible tragedy and people are very upset."
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