Cargo plane crashes at Elmendorf Air Force Base in AK with 4 on board; no word on casualties

Cargo plane crashes at AK base; 4 people on board

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — The Air Force says a military cargo plane crashed Wednesday with four people on board at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.

Air Force Capt. Uriah Orland says the conditions of the four on board was not immediately known. When asked if there were deaths, he did not answer.

The plane was from the 3rd Wing, based at Elmendorf, and Orland said it was on a local training run.

Orland says first responders were still on scene more than two hours after the 6:14 p.m. crash.

He says more information will be released later Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska National Guard says a military cargo plane has crashed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.

Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes confirmed the Wednesday evening crash of a C-17.

No other details were immediately available, including whether there were casualties.

Military police refused to comment, and other base personnel did not immediately return messages seeking information. Hayes was en route to the base just off downtown Anchorage to coordinate with the base’s public affairs officer to release further comment.

Anchorage Fire Dept. Captain Bryan Grella said his crew was just getting done with dinner at about 6:30 p.m. at the downtown fire station when something caught his eye.

“It was a big, gray plume of smoke, and I saw a fireball go up in it,” he said.

The fireball extended about 750 feet in the air. He estimated the plume to be about two miles from downtown.