Authorities have released the identities of the three American firefighters who died in a plane crash in the Australian state of New South Wales. They had been on a mission to help battle the wildfires during the tragic incident on Thursday.
Captain Ian McBeth (45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 43, and flight engineer Rick A DeMorgan Jr, 44 were identified as the victims.
The three were in a C-130 Hercules firefighting aircraft from Coulson Aviation when it crashed in the Snowy Monaro area. Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons revealed at a press conference, “Initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground. The official cause of the crash has yet been identified.
“Our hearts are with all of those who are suffering what is the loss of three remarkable, well-respected crew that have invested so many decades of their life into firefighting and fire management,” Fitzsimmons said.
A state memorial for the brave men is being offered by New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Authorities reportedly lost contact with the aircraft at around 1:30 local time.
The death toll for Australia’s bushfire crisis now stands at 33 people since September last year. Over 70 active fires are still ablaze across New South Wales alone.
Mcbeth, who hails from Montana was an experienced and esteemed C-130 pilot with years of experience fighting fires. Hudson is an Arizona native who served the US Marine Corps for two decades including as a C-130 pilot. DeMorgan Jr. of Florida is a US Air Force veteran who served as a C-130 flight engineer.
Shera Elliott graduated from the New Mexico State University with a major in biology and a minor in Biological Basis of Behavior & Health Care Management. Shera grew up in Los Angeles, but moved to Las Cruces for college. Shera has written for several major publications including the Albuquerque Journal and NPR. Shera is a community reporter and also covers stories important important to all Americans.