Afghanistan: 14 killed after US Air Force cargo plane crashes near Jalalabad Airfield

Fourteen people were killed when a US Air Force C-130J transport jet crashed in eastern Afghanistan as it was reaching Jalalabad Airfield after midnight on 2 October local time, Air Force officials confirmed. Six US service members, five civilian contractors and at least three Afghans were killed in the crash.

According to ABC News, the nationalities of the civilian contractors were not immediately released. A defence official told reporters that there were no initial indications the aircraft was hit with hostile fire.

Meanwhile, two US officials confirmed that the aircraft was approaching the airport when it crashed. USA Today reported that first responders remain on the scene of the crash, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

A news release from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan revealed the plane was part of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The C-130J, which is equipped with some of the most sophisticated navigational equipment, is used for transporting military personnel and cargo.

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