Therese Apel

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Click here for the latest updates on this fatal military crash

7:30 a.m. update:

President Donald Trump is offering condolences to the families of those who died in a tragic military plane crash in Mississippi, the Associated Press reported.

A U.S. military plane used for refueling crashed into a soybean field in rural Mississippi on Monday, killing at least 16 people aboard. The fiery wreckage spread debris for miles.

Trump tweeted early Tuesday, "Marine Plane crash in Mississippi is heartbreaking. Melania and I send our deepest condolences to all!"

The KC-130 plane was from the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, issued the following statement on the crash:

"Susan and I send our deepest condolences to the families of the Marines who lost their lives in service to our nation. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and the Havelock community are in our thoughts and prayers. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers our servicemembers are confronted with on a daily basis, including the training missions that are needed to help keep our nation safe at home and abroad."

Officials did not release information on what caused the crash.

The identities of the service members whose lives were lost in this tragic accident are being withheld to allow time for their loved ones to be notified, the Marine Forces Reserve said in news release.

Original story:

A military plane has crashed in a soybean field in Leflore County, killing at least 16 and leaving a debris field five miles in radius, officials said.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson said the plane crashed on the Sunflower-Leflore county line.

Leflore County EMA Director Frank Randle confirmed that 16 are dead in the crash.

"Most of them are gonna be Marines," Sheriff Ricky Banks said. He could not confirm whether there were any civilians on the plane.

A late-night briefing by Randle just before 11 p.m. Monday did not reveal any new details except to say people who are not responders should avoid the area because there is still flammable fuel on the scene.

Story continues after video

The U.S. Marine Corps Twitter account posted that "A USMC KC-130 mishap occurred the evening of July 10. Further information will be released as available."

Capt. Sarah Burns echoed that Twitter language in a statement, saying a Marine KC-130 "experienced a mishap" Monday evening.

Marine Corps spokeswoman Lt. Kristine Rascicot confirmed that the crash was, in fact, a USMC KC-130, but said she's not able to release any more details.

So far there is no word on where the plane was coming from or where it was going.

Leflore County Deputy Coroner Will Gnemi has confirmed the coroner's office is on the scene. He said they are still looking for victims, so he doesn't know how many there will be by the end of the day. He said the crash site is a very rural area, and that they are searching in a field with tall vegetation.

The Clarion-Ledger has confirmed that the FBI is assisting on the scene as well.

Greenwood Fire Chief Marcus Banks told the Greenwood Commonwealth's Tim Kalich that the debris field is about five miles in radius.

"Please join Deborah and me in praying for those hurting after this tragedy," Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement on Facebook. "Our men and women in uniform risk themselves every day to secure our freedom."

Marcus Banks told the Commonwealth that the call came in around 4 p.m. An aircraft crash truck was taken to the scene, and 4,000 gallons of foam were used in an effort to put out the fire, he said.

Firefighters were driven away by several "high-intensity explosions," he told the Commonwealth, adding that they thought it was possibly some ammunition igniting.

The Commonwealth reports that the flight was last reported to air traffic controllers at an elevation of about 20,000 feet.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said the NTSB is not involved in the investigation at this time since it's a military aircraft.

The KC-130 is a four-engine propeller-driven aircraft that is a variant of the Cold War-era C-130 Hercules, according to a Washington Post article. It an extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules that has been modified for aerial refueling in midair or equipment on the ground. It can also haul troops and equipment and in some cases carry an array of weapons.

Memphis Commercial Appeal Staff Writer Daniel Connolly contributed to this report.

Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.