United States Air Force investigates the cause of first major accident to have involved a Boeing C-17 strategic transport.
A C-17A assigned to the service’s 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska crashed on the base at 18:14 local time July 28th while “on a local training mission”, the service confirms.
The status of the four crew members aboard the aircraft was listed as “unknown” following the incident.
According to local media reports, the C-17’s crew had been rehearsing a display routine for the Arctic Thunder air show, which is scheduled to be held at Elmendorf on 31 July and 1 August.
The USAF’s C-17A fleet totalled 199 aircraft before the 28 July accident, says Flightglobal’s MiliCAS database. Another 19 of the type are also operated by the air forces of Australia, Canada, Qatar and the UK, and by a 12-nation consortium of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.
Four airmen were killed early Wednesday evening when a large military cargo plane crashed at Elmendorf Air Force base in Anchorage, officials said on early Thursday.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft went down at the end of the runway around 6.14 p.m. local time and was witnessed by many local residents. Large plumes of black smoke were initially seen rising from the scene.
Bob Hall, a spokesman for the base, said the Air Force cargo aircraft, which was carrying four Airmen, was assigned to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base. “At the time of the accident, it was on a local training mission,” he said.
Colonel John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander, confirmed there were no survivors in the accident. “Our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of those Airmen killed in this crash,” he said.
“Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it’s a loss felt across our entire joint installation. Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators,” McMullen added.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell said he and his wife Sandy were saddened to learn of the plane crash. “Alaskans are very connected to the military and our thoughts and prayers are with Alaska’s Air Force Family,” he said.
U.S. Senator Mark Begich and former mayor of Anchorage Mark Begich said his thoughts and prayers were with the extended National Guard family. “The service members of our National Guard sacrifice daily to defend our nation and make our state safe,” he said.
Begich said every Alaskan is deeply saddened by Wednesday’s accident. “I urge all Alaskans to include these brave Guardsmen and their families in their prayers,” he added.
The names of the Airmen who died are being withheld pending notification of next of kin and McMullen said a board of officers will investigate the cause of the crash.
McMullen and Brigadier General Charles Foster, 176th Wing commander from the Alaska Air National Guard, will hold a news conference at 8 a.m. local time to provide more information about the accident.
The C-17 Globemaster III is a large four-engined jet which can be used to transport troops or cargo. Since it entered service with the US Air Force in 1993, the C-17 has had a mostly stellar safety record, with no fatal accidents reported. Five countries and NATO operate the aircraft, of which over 200 have been built.
