Nine people aboard a retiring Puerto Rico Air National Guard plane died when in crashed in Savannah, Georgia, shortly after its takeoff.
The plane, a WC-130 weather reconnaissance and cargo plane from Puerto Rico’s 156th Airlift Wing, was in Georgia for maintenance and was being flown to Tucson, Arizona, where it was to be decommissioned, CNN reports.
According to The Washington Post, an Air Force spokeswoman said that the crash occurred around 11:30 a.m., crashing on a road near the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Isabelo Rivera, Adjutant General of Puerto Rico’s National Guard, told the Associated Press that it is too early to tell what exactly caused the crash, The Post reports. In a statement, the Air Force said that the military is investigating the crash, and the names of the victims will not be released until all the families are notified.
“Nine crew members died in the accident, but until their families and relatives are notified, we cannot give their names,” Rivera said. “Our prayers, thoughts and condolences to the families and loved ones of our aviators.”
Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, tweeted his condolences: “While we are waiting for more information regarding this unfortunate accident, my thoughts and those of 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.”
Mientras estamos a la espera de mayor información con relación a este lamentable accidente, mis pensamientos y los de Beatriz están con las familias de los tripulantes. Recibirán nuestro apoyo y el de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico en este proceso. pic.twitter.com/3m9ci84KDY
— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) May 2, 2018
President Donald Trump also tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims, writing, “Please join me in thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard.”
I have been briefed on the U.S. C-130 “Hercules” cargo plane from the Puerto Rico National Guard that crashed near Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. Please join me in thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2018
According to CBS News, the plane was one of the oldest C-130s still flying, and Rivera noted that two of the five like this plane in the Puerto Rico National Guard are currently not in use due to their needed maintenance.
“The planes that we have in Puerto Rico — it’s not news today that they are the oldest planes on inventory,” Rivera said.
When Puerto Rico was severely hit by two Category 4 hurricanes, it took a toll on the 156th Airlift Wing.
“Our wing was devastated by two back-to-back Category-4 hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico, and we’re still in that process continuing to work with higher-level command to get us through the recovery phases and rebuild the wing,” Col. Raymond Figueroa, wing commander of the 156th, said last month.
Witnesses of the crash said that the plane made a “loud, strange noise” before it went down, CNN reports. Denver Goodwin, who works at a wrecker service down the street from the crash, said “the ground shook like a bomb was going off.”
Video footage from a nearby business shows the harrowing last moments before the plane crashed; the plane banks left and then nosedives behind the trees before it erupts in a plume of black smoke.
Prayers go out to the families of all on board the plane that crashed in Garden City today. Captured from my business’ surveillance cameras #CNNiReport pic.twitter.com/08Ms4gADMv
— Scott Cohen (@scottoftroy) May 2, 2018
Despite the severity of the crash, there were no injuries on the ground.
Local members currently on scene assisting with clean up. pic.twitter.com/lSuRcqTx56
— IAFF574 Savannah (@IAFF574) May 2, 2018
“As far as we know, no cars were hit, which is an absolute miracle,” Gena Bilbo, spokeswoman for the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, said.