3 from U.S. killed in plane crash while fighting Australia's wildfires
A plane helping battle wildfires in Australia crashed in New South Wales state Thursday, killing three U.S. residents, officials said.
The C-130 Hercules firefighting aircraft, which officials said was from Coulson Aviation — a private company contracted by the Rural Fire Service, crashed in the Snowy Monaro area. The Rural Fire Service lost contact with the air tanker around 1:30 p.m.
"Initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground," Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said at a news conference.
"Unfortunately, all we've been able to do is locate the wreckage and the crash site. We have not been able to locate any survivors," he said.
Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc. of Portland, Oregon, confirmed the three deaths in a statement, saying it lost contact with one of its large air tankers in southern New South Wales.
It said an accident response team had been activated. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also deploy a team to investigate the crash, the agency said.
The C-130 left Richmond in New South Wales with a load of retardant and was on a "firebombing mission," Coulson said.
The identities of those killed have not been released.
Fitzsimmons said the victims were known among local firefighters as well as U.S. firefighters helping crews fight the wildfires.
"Our hearts are with all of those who are suffering what is the loss of three remarkable, well-respected crew that have invested so many decades of their life into firefighting and fire management," Fitzsimmons said.
Coulson Aviation grounded its large air tankers as a standard precaution following the crash, he said, noting that the company has worked with New South Wales for years and has a long and respected reputation fighting wildfires.
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