SACRAMENTO – (INT) – A C-130 Hercules that crashed on a fire-fighting mission in Australia killing its three crewmembers was based in California.

The 4-engine aircraft, dubbed Tanker 134, was used for training future pilots of the CAL FIRE C-130 Program and played a key role in battling last year’s California wildfires including the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County.

The aircraft, owned by Coulson Aviation, was under contract with Australia’s Rural Fire Service. It crashed Thursday in the Snowy Monaro area of New South Wales. The cause is under investigation.

The three crew members were from Montana, Florida and Arizona.

Story Date: January 29, 2020