Aging C-130 military aircraft fell out of sky, eyewitnesses say
SAVANNAH, Ga. An aging military cargo aircraft, a Lockheed Martin C-130 being operated by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, “fell out of the sky” and crashed nose-first into the highway shortly after taking off from Savannah, Georgia, eyewitnesses reveal. The aircraft had undergone days of maintenance and was en route to Tucson, Arizona, where it was to be decommissioned, officials say. All nine airmen on board perished in the crash.
Conflicting reports about the aircraft and the fatalities surround the unfortunate incident. Some indicate the aircraft was manufactured in the 1970s, other say it is a 1950-era model.
At the same time, U.S. Air Force officials have reported:
“While performing a training mission, a U.S. C-130 Hercules cargo plane from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard crashed about 11:30 a.m. May 2, 2018, near the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Georgia, with five people on board.”
Savannah police have released recordings of 911 calls from eyewitnesses: http://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Aircraft-crashes-near-Savannah-481512311.html
The Puerto Rico National Guard has released the names of the victims of the WC-130 Hercules aircraft accident, which occurred May 2, 2018, near Hilton Head Airport in Savannah, Georgia.
The names of the nine fallen airmen are: Maj. JosĂ© R. Román Rosado – Pilot – 18 years of service - from Manati, PR. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Maj. Carlos PĂ©rez Serra – Navigator – 23 years of service - from CanĂłvanas, PR. He is survived by his wife, two sons anddaughter. 1st Lt. David Albandoz – Co-Pilot – 16 years of service - from PR, recently residing in Madison, Alabama. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini – Mechanic – 21 years of service - from CanĂłvanas, PR. He is survived by two daughters and son. Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred – 16 years of service - from Carolina, PR. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Master Sgt. Mario Braña – Flight Engineer – 17 years of service - from BayamĂłn, PR. He is survived by his mother and daughter. Master Sgt. VĂctor ColĂłn – 22 years of service - from Santa Isabel, PR. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Master Sgt. Eric Circuns – Loadmaster – 31 years of service - from Rio Grande, PR. He is survived by his wife, two step-daughters and son. Senior Airman Roberto Espada– three years of service - from Salinas, PR. He is survived by his grandmother.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
