1. A U.S. military plane used for refueling crashed in a rural Mississippi soybean field Monday afternoon, killing all 16 service members aboard.
2. The crash site may contain explosive ammunition and ordinance, and local residents have been warned not to come near it and that they may hear small explosions as the devices are rendered safe, said state Public Safety Director Marshall Fisher.
3. Foul play is not suspected in the crash, military officials said. Family members have been notified, and the names of the victims will be made public within days.
4. At 4 p.m. Monday, air traffic control lost radar contact with the KC-130, made by Marietta-based Lockheed Martin. Indications are something went wrong at the cruise altitude of 20,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, large plumes of smoke were seen in the area of Itta Bena, Miss., officials said.
5. Wednesday morning, Marine Brig. Gen. Bradley S. James said the nine-member crew of the “Yanky 72” was transporting a seven-member special team from North Carolina to Naval Air Facility at El Centro, California. They were then to travel by ground to training in Yuma, Az.
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