Three firefighters from the United States are dead after their airplane crashed in Australia overnight.
While working in the Snowy Monaro Area in southern New South Wales (NWS), Australia contact was lost with a large airtankers, a Lockheed C-130 registration N134CG, operated by Coulson Aviation.
The aircraft had departed Richmond, NSW with a load of retardant and was on a firebombing mission, according to a statement from the company. “The accident is reported to be extensive and we are deeply saddened to confirm there were 3 fatalities.”
The accident response team has been activated as well as local emergency services, Coulson Aviation is sending a team to the site to assist in emergency operations.
Local officials with the NSW Rural Fire Service said that contact was lost with the crew and that a number of helicopters were in the area carrying out the search.
No further information is available at this time.