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Australia fires: US crew dead in firefighting plane crash Australia fires: US crew dead in firefighting plane crash
(32 minutes later)
Three US residents died in a firefighting aircraft crash in Australia, authorities have confirmed. Three US residents have died in a firefighting aircraft crash in Australia, authorities have said.
The large air tanker and crew were reported missing in southern New South Wales shortly before 13:30 local time (02:30 GMT) on Thursday. Officials lost contact with the water-bombing plane and its crew shortly before 13:30 local time (02:30 GMT) on Thursday.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. The cause of the crash in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales (NSW) is not yet known.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the plane crashed in the Snowy Mountains, two hours south of the capital, Canberra. More than 80 blazes are raging across the state following a return of hot and windy conditions.
"Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families," she told reporters on Thursday. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the plane had crashed in an active fire zone two hours south of Australia's capital, Canberra.
"Today, again demonstrates the fire season is far from over." "Today, again demonstrates the fire season is far from over," she told reporters.
"Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families."
The three crew members have not been identified but officials said they were US residents.The three crew members have not been identified but officials said they were US residents.
The NSW Rural Fire Service said the crew had been contracted to Australia to help fight the bushfires this season. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) said the experienced and "well known" crew had been contracted to Australia to help fight the bushfires this season.
The Hercules C-130 water-bombing aircraft had been deployed to fight a severe blaze in the region. "Our hearts are with all those that are suffering what is the loss of three remarkable, well respected crew that have invested so many decades of their life into firefighting," said NSWRFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
More than 80 blazes are raging across the state amid a return of high temperatures and strong winds. The Hercules C-130 water-bombing aircraft had been leased from North American firm Coulson Aviation as part of seasonal arrangement.
It was unclear what had had caused the plane to crash, said Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. All large air tanker aircraft operations had been suspended for the rest of the day pending investigation into the crash, Mr Fitzsimmons said.
"Initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground," he said. "It was operating as it routinely does with water bombing activities...there is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident."
This is a breaking news story - more to follow. The C-130 Hercules