US KC-135 Military Refuel Plane Crashes in Kyrgyzstan

[jaie]

Yesterday, at around 08.55 gmt, A KC-135 US military tanker crashed in the Panfilov district, Chui province of Kyrgyzstan.

The plane belonged to the US 376th Air Expeditonary Wing and was heading to Afghanistan from the Mansas Transit Center for miilitary operations.

 

The plane is believed to have been carrying 60 tonnes of fuel.

 

 

The plane was manned by a crew of 3 pilots. 2 pilot's bodies have been found however there has been no trace of the 3rd pilot.

Witnesses report that the pilot jumped out of the plane with a parachute, before the crash. However, it is unlikely that he survived the explosion.

A parachute has been found, but there has been no trace of a body.

 

Rescue workers have also found the plane's black box. The cause of the crash is still unknown. Witnesses report that the plane caught fire whilst in flight and

School Children recorded the plane on their phones as it fell. There was a loud buzz as the plane hit a high voltage power-line on the way down.

The plane was blown into pieces, which later were found 80 kilometers east of Bishkek, near the border with Kazakhstan.

 

It is thought that the blast radius may have been up to 20 kilometres and that the 3rd pilot's body may not be found.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOH8NXBavBk

 

 

 

 

Sources:

 

http://eng.24.kg/incidents/2013/05/04/26856.html

 

http://www.hngn.com/articles/2487/20130503/u-s-military-plane-plummets-kyrgyzstan-casualties-still-unknown.htm

 

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e1c_1367606182

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry for the bad reporting.

Edited May 4, 2013 by jaie