A US Air Force MC-12 Liberty, carrying a crew of two pilots, and two crypto analysts crashed in Zabul Province, Afghanistan April 27th, killing all four on board. The aircraft is based on the Beech King Air 350, and carries cameras, and signals intelligence gear on board.

The Air Force rushed an order for 50 of the aircraft to increase their intelligence gathering capabilities in Afghanistan. This is the first crash for the type in military service.

Earlier today, National Air Cargo confirmed that a 747-400 freighter, with a crew of 8 on board crashed on take off from Bagram Air Field. Early reports say everyone on board was killed in the crash, but National has not confirmed the status of the crew.

The aircraft was operating on behalf of the Air Mobility Command, carrying a cargo of five military vehicles to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at the time of the crash. It was reported by witnesses that as the aircraft passed through approximately 1200 feet, the nose suddenly pitched up, and the aircraft appeared to stall, and crash off the end of the runway, where it exploded into flames. It's way too early to speculate on what may have happened to cause the nose to pitch up, if it did (early witnesses are notoriously unreliable).


http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/...read944143/pg1
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/arti...sh-Afghanistan
http://forums.liveleak.com/showthrea....php?p=1789074

Smoke plume rising from the crash site (Photo: Albert Ramirez):

Crash: National Air Cargo B744 at Bagram on Apr 29th 2013, lost height shortly after takeoff
By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Apr 29th 2013 14:02Z, last updated Monday, Apr 29th 2013 22:22Z

A National Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of US Mobility Command, registration N949CA performing cargo flight N8-102 from Bagram (Afghanistan) to Dubai Al Maktoum (United Arab Emirates) with 8 crew and cargo consisting of 5 military vehicles, has crashed shortly after takeoff from Bagram Air Base's runway 03 at 15:30L (11:00Z) and erupted into flames near the end of the runway within the perimeter of the Air Base. All 8 crew are reported perished in the crash.

Afghan Authorities immediately denied claims that the crash of a large civilian cargo aircraft was the result of enemy activities. A large fire erupted after the aircraft impacted ground, it appears all crew have been killed.

Coalition Forces reported a civilian large cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff, at the time of the accident there was no enemy activity around the aerodrome. Rescue and Recovery efforts are under way, the Air Base is currently locked down and the aerodrome is closed.

National Air Cargo confirmed their aircraft N949CA with 8 crew crashed at Bagram.

Several observers on the ground reported the National Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 had just lifted off and was climbing through approximately 1200 feet when it's nose sharply rose, the aircraft appeared to have stalled and came down erupting in a blaze.

According to a listener on frequency the crew reported the aircraft stalled due to a possible load shift.

The aircraft was carrying 5 military vehicles.

National Air Cargo operates three Boeing 747-400s with the registrations N952CA, N919CA and N949CA. N949CA operated into Afghanistan yesterday (Apr 28th).

http://avherald.com/h?article=46183bb4&opt=0

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