Air Force plane crashes battling forest fire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A military cargo plane from North Carolina has crashed while fighting a wildfire in South Dakota, but there’s no official word on death or injuries.
The North Carolina Air National Guard says six crew members were aboard. The C-130 is part of the 145th Airlift Wing in Charlotte, N.C.
Military officials say the plane crashed after dropping fire retardant Sunday in the Black Hills.
A U.S. Forest Service official in Colorado offered sympathy to the crew members’ families.
South Dakota officials tell the Rapid City Journal three crew members were taken to a hospital …

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A military cargo plane from North Carolina has crashed while fighting a wildfire in South Dakota, but there’s no official word on death or injuries.

The North Carolina Air National Guard says six crew members were aboard. The C-130 is part of the 145th Airlift Wing in Charlotte, N.C.

Military officials say the plane crashed after dropping fire retardant Sunday in the Black Hills.

A U.S. Forest Service official in Colorado offered sympathy to the crew members’ families.

South Dakota officials tell the Rapid City Journal three crew members were taken to a hospital. Military officials won’t comment.

Eight C-130s can be equipped to drop water or fire retardant. In addition to the Charlotte unit, they’re flown by National Guard and Reserve units in California, Colorado and Wyoming.