Two of the six airmen who died Thursday when a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Afghanistan were deployed from Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
The other four airmen were deployed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight local time (3:19 p.m. ET) at Jalalabad airfield, coalition spokesman U.S. Army Col. Brian Tribus said.
"This is a devastating day for our Air Force and for Hanscom Air Force Base," said Col. Michael A. Vogel, base commander. "Our hearts are heavy with sorrow as we grieve with and for the families of these brave airmen."
The names of the deceased will be withheld for 24 hours after the families of the airmen are notified.
The airmen from Hanscom were members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron and were deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistant. Members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron routinely deploy to assist with security operations around the globe.
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Seven others were also killed in the crash. The other victims were five civilian contractors, who were passengers, and two Afghan civilians who were killed on the ground, Tribus added.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Tony Wickman, spokesman for the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, told The Associated Press the the Super Hercules aircraft crashed "shortly after take-off wholly within the airfield."
The cause of the crash has not been determined. The Air Force denied a Taliban claim that they shot the plane out of the sky, saying "it does not appear that enemy fire was involved."
Tajawar Khan, 58, who works as a caretaker near the base, said he witnessed a "huge explosion and massive fire" after hearing a "strange sound" from a plane. Khan added that the blaze raged for several hours.
The C-130 is a four-engine turboprop aircraft used to transport personnel and oversized cargo.
Hanscom Air Force Base said it has no additional information about the crash. Additional information will be released either by the Pentagon or by the unit in Afghanistan responsible for that area of operations.
