KENYA: SEVEN UNITED STATES AIRMEN KILLED WHEN THEIR AC-130 PLANE APPEARED TO EXPLODE AND CRASH INTO THE SEA NEAR MALINDI

Record ID: 394386

  • Title: KENYA: SEVEN UNITED STATES AIRMEN KILLED WHEN THEIR AC-130 PLANE APPEARED TO EXPLODE AND CRASH INTO THE SEA NEAR MALINDI
  • Date: 15th March 1994
  • Summary: AT SEA NEAR MALINDI, KENYA (MARCH 15, 1994) (REUTERS TELEVISION) GV: WRECKAGE OF U.S. AIR FORCE AC-130 IN SHALLOW WATER SV/GV: RESCUE DINGHIES AT CRASH SITE (2 SHOTS) CUS: WRECKAGE ON BEACH/ RESCUE WORKERS CARRYING BODY (5 SHOTS) SVS/GVS: RESUCE WORKERS IN SEA, SHARK NEARBY (7 SHOTS) SVS: UNITED STATES (U.S.) AIR FORCE LIEUTENTANT-COLONEL MIKE GAMMON SAYING SEARCH WILL CONTINUE TILL MISSING MEN ARE FOUND (ENGLISH) GVS: RESCUE WORKERS BRINGING BODY ASHORE (2 SHOTS) (2.15)
  • Embargoed: 30th March 1994 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AT SEA NEAR MALINDI, KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Disasters,Defence / Military,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMJSZHQGXTAO8XKK1KYVH62KT
  • Story Text: Rescuers dragged the bodies of seven United States (U.S.) airmen from the sea off Kenya on Tuesday (March 15) after their AC-130 four-engine gunship crashed in flames en route to Somalia.
    One man was still missing. A U.S. military spokesman said six of the 14 U.S. airforce crewmen survived Monday night's crash about 200 metres (yards) off Mayungu beach, south of the Kenyan resort of Malindi.
    "The crew reported there was an explosion - we don't know whether it was an engine or not - and they were going to have to ditch the aircraft," said U.S. airforce Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Gammon.
    Three splashed ashore through a snake-infested lagoon towards the lights of a seaside hotel. Three others were injured but picked up by the Korean trawler Aldria Eight.
    The AC-130 Spectre - a ground attack version of the C-130 Hercules transport plane - had just taken off from Mombasa for a two-hour flight to Mogadishu before a six-hour patrol protecting U.S. forces withdrawing from Somalia.
    Witnesses said fire streamed from the rear of the plane shortly before it plunged into the sea. Some of the crew parachuted from the aircraft seconds before it hit the lagoon.
    The 46 million U.S. dollar plane carried an arsenal of Bofors and Vulcan cannon, 7.62 miniguns and a huge 105 mm howitzer used to bomb weapons dumps and buildings used by Somali war lord Mohamed Farah Aideed in Mogadishu soon after the United Nations started its abortive hunt for him last June.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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