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U.S. Air Force plane crashes in Djibouti, killing 4


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U.S. Air Force plane crashes in Djibouti, killing 4

2012-02-20 23:58:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

DJIBOUTI CITY, DJIBOUTI (BNO NEWS) -- A U.S. Air Force plane crashed near an airport in the African nation of Djibouti on late Saturday evening, killing four service members, U.S. military officials said on Monday. The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

Officials at Hurlburt Field in Florida said the accident happened at around 8 p.m. local time on Saturday when a U-28A aircraft, the U.S. Air Force equivalent of the single-engine Pilatus PC-12, crashed about six miles (10 kilometers) from Camp Lemonnier at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport.

Amy Oliver, a spokeswoman for Hurlburt Field, said the cause of the accident was not immediately known. "They were returning from a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and they were returning back to the base when the accident occurred," she said, referring to the U.S. military operation in the Horn of Africa. "I don't have any information yet about what may have caused it. It is under investigation, we can't speculate on that."

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed four U.S. airmen were killed in the crash, and there were no survivors. "U.S. military personnel were dispatched to the scene to provide immediate response assistance and secure the crash site," a spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command said. "A safety board investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident."

Oliver identified those killed as 30-year-old Captain Ryan P. Hall, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, 29-year-old Captain Nicholas S. Whitlock, of Newnan, Georgia, 26-year-old 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, of Bend, Oregon, and 26-year-old Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Hall, a U-28A pilot on his seventh deployment, had more than 1,300 combat flight hours while Whitlock, also a U-28A pilot, had more than 800 combat flight hours.

"The Hurlburt Field community expresses our deepest condolences to the family of the crew, and we share in their sorrow. Our efforts are focused on helping them through this difficult time," said Col. Jim Slife, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing. "We will never forget the valuable contributions these brave men made to their country and community."

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-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-20

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