News | Air Force Recon Plane Goes Down-3 Dead

breaking defense

Our Condolences Go Out To All Those Affected.

On March 14th, 2017, tragic news reached Cannon Air Force Base In New Mexico. 

3 members of the 318th Special Operations Wing were performing routine “touch and go” exercises on the air base’s runway, the last one ending in the plane crashing a quarter mile away from the base. 

The squadron, responsible for conducting night vision infiltration, exfiltration and resupply among other things, uses a modified Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. A Swiss plane for commercial use, the USAF modified it to for these purposes, designating it U-28A nicknamed, “Slayer.”

“We are deeply saddened by this loss … Our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends affected by this #tragedy.”
~Col. Ben Maitre

— Cannon AFB (@CannonAFBnews) March 15, 2017

The cause of the crash is still unknown and an investigation is underway.

The identities of the fallen airmen have not been released yet, as Air Force officials are given 24 hours to notify the families of the deceased.