US National Guard C-130 Military Plane Crashes Killing 9 Puerto Rican Crew

An US Air National Guard C-130 military cargo aircraft crashed onto a highway in Georgia killing all nine Puerto Rican crew members.

The Air Force said the plane belonged to the 156th Air Wing out of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico National Guard Spokesman Maj. Paul Dahlen told The Associated Press that all those aboard were Puerto Ricans who had recently left the U.S. territory for a mission on the U.S. mainland, Global News reported Wednesday.

The plane crashed onto state highway 21 moments after taking off from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, narrowly missing people on the ground and sending an orange and black fireball into the sky.

Senior Master Sergeant Roger Parsons of the Georgia Air National Guard told reporters the cause of the crash was unknown and authorities were still working to make the crash site safe for investigators.

"Any information about what caused this or any facts about the aircraft will come out in the investigation," he said.