A C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker has crashed while battling wildfires in Australia, killing all three of its crew.

All three victims were American citizens, Australian authorities said, adding it was not immediately known why the plane crashed.

“Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area,” said Shane Fitzsimmons, the Rural Fire Services Commissioner for New South Wales state.

“[The tanker] impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground. There is no indication at this stage of what’s caused the accident.”

Mr Fitzsimmons said the plane, which was carrying a load of fire retardant, had been leased by Canadian aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation, which has grounded its large air tanker fleet pending a review to ensure there was no systemic issue such as a fuel problem.

Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Show all 21 1 /21 Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-15.JPG Philippe Ravenel poses for a photo in front of the remains of his house after it was burnt in a bushfire, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Photos Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-19.JPG Volunteers arrange donated clothes at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia. Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-10.JPG Children play inside an Australian Army forces vehicle that was expedited to help with the recovery of the town following the bushfires, during a gathering at the town's pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-17.JPG A teapot salvaged from the house of Philippe Ravenel, whose home was burnt in a bushfire, stands amongst some of his other belongings in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-16.JPG A man sits on a bench as caravans and tents of evacuees are parked at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-12.JPG Two women embrace during a gathering in the town's pub, to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY.JPG Tim Salway, a fifth-generation dairy farmer who lost both his father and brother in the bushfires, stands in his farm in Wandella, near the town of Cobargo. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-6.JPG A firefighter's suit hangs on the fence of a property next to a sign that reads "Thanks guys" in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-13.JPG Rod Dunn who is a builder, stands outside a borrowed caravan that he is now living in with his wife Kath Dunn, after they lost their home in a bushfire, at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-18.JPG Donated clothes and blankets are piled outside an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo. Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-1.JPG The Cobargo town sign that was burnt in a bushfire, stands in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-11.JPG A note that reads "Post Apocalyptic Fiction is moved to Current Affairs" is posted on the window of a bookshop in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-14.JPG People listen to a speech during a gathering in the town's pub, to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-3.JPG Mark Ayliffe, captain of the Cobargo Rural Fire Service, holds his own portrait that was given to him by members of the community for his efforts in the recent bushfires, during a gathering in the town's pub, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-9.JPG Donated children's shoes are displayed at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-8.JPG People select donated goods at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-7.JPG The remains of a car, burnt by a bushfire, stands in front of a destroyed structure, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-5.JPG A woman carrying a child, holds a box of donated goods, at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-2.JPG A danger sign is hung in front of an area cordoned off by the Emergency State Services, that was destroyed by bushfires in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-0.JPG David Moran, a community worker from Dalmeny, climbs down a ladder as he is helped by volunteers Daniel and Stephanie Galileos to clean the solar panels on Peter Hisco's (R) house in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-4.JPG People attend a gathering in the town's pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters

It had a second C-130 Hercules tackling bushfires in Australia.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was sending a team of investigators to the crash site to collect evidence and would analyse available recorded data, review weather information and interview any witnesses.

It said a preliminary report would be released in about 30 days but if a critical safety issue was identified during the course of the investigation it would immediately notify the relevant stakeholders.

Coulson ​Aviation said the plane was on a firebombing mission and was carrying a load of retardant.

The company said it would send a team to the crash site to assist in the emergency operations.

“The accident is reported to be extensive and we are deeply saddened to confirm there were three fatalities,” the company said.

The deaths take the toll from hundreds of wildfires across eastern Australia to 32 since September. Around 1 billion animals are also thought to have perished, while 2,500 homes have been incinerated.