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WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2002 – A Marine Corps KC-130/R crashed into a mountain near Shamsi, Pakistan, at 6:45 p.m. today Pakistan time, U.S. Central Command officials said.
Seven Marines were aboard the aircraft. CENTCOM officials had no immediate status report on the Marines. The flight originated in Jacobabad, Pakistan, and was on a multistop mission. Officials did not know whether the aircraft had gone into Afghanistan. CENTCOM officials said it was "unlikely" the crash was the result of any enemy action, but said the cause of the crash is already under investigation. The destination of the flight was the Forward Operating Base at Shamsi in southwestern Pakistan. KC-130s are multirole, multimission tactical tanker- transports flown by the Marines. They can refuel both tactical aircraft and helicopters in flight as well as provide rapid ground refueling when required. They can drop paratroopers and cargo and also operate from short, rough- landing airstrips.
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