A Lockheed C-130 aircraft crashed on a runway in southern California late Sunday night with seven passengers on board — all of whom escaped unscathed.
The plane had taken off from Santa Maria, Calif. and was bound for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, but was forced to make an emergency landing around 10:30 p.m. local time at Santa Barbara Airport where it skidded off the runway and crashed, then catching on fire, CBS News reported Monday morning.
Seven people were on board and all escaped without injuries.
“A Private C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing, crashed and caught fire at the Santa Barbara Airport at 10:13 p.m. Sunday. 7 souls aboard/escaped w no injuries,” tweeted Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesperson Mike Eliason, along with a video of crews extinguishing the flames.
#AircraftEmergency– A Private C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing, crashed and caught fire at the Santa Barbara Airport at 10:13 p.m. Sunday. 7 souls aboard/escaped w no injuries. **ALL MEDIA CALL SBAirport PIO At 805-319-1400** pic.twitter.com/ptJJbeUM2q
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) August 26, 2019
The plane reportedly encountered hydraulic issues that prompted the emergency diversion and landing.
One Twitter user said that according to the air traffic control recording, “C-130 was down to 3 engines and had hydraulic failure. Pilot said he had no flaps and made some s-turns to lose altitude on approach.”
Dug up ATC audio of the Santa Barbara C-130 incident. Per controller, C-130 was down to 3 engines and had hydraulic failure. Pilot said he had no flaps and made some s-turns to lose altitude on approach. Approach starts around 19:10- https://t.co/zWn3XBy1sK https://t.co/0OsJdibq4C
— Scott Lowe (@tropicostation) August 26, 2019
Part of the plane’s wing broke on impact and the crash caused fuel to spill.
C-130 PLANE EMERGENCY LANDING/CRASH – Santa Barbara airport. 7 on board. No injuries. Part of a wing broke off on impact. Fuel spill. Multiple fire engines on scene. Fire reported after crash – is out. One commercial flight diverted. pic.twitter.com/qm9V3a5Z1I
— John Palminteri (@JohnPalminteri) August 26, 2019
The damage the wings prompted crews to bring in a crane to stabilize them before moving the plane.
CREWS DEFUEL a C-130 and cranes stabilize wings before deciding how it should be moved at the Santa Barbara Airport. An emergency landing, crash and fire Sunday night shut down the airport until 4:45 pm today. Main runway open. 7 onboard got out unhurt. pic.twitter.com/oFvYhOdA92
— John Palminteri (@JohnPalminteri) August 27, 2019
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will be launching an investigation into the incident.
The plane is owned by International Air Response, a Mesa, Ariz.-based company specializing in special applications with aircraft, including using C-130s, which are used for oil spill cleanup, disaster relief, and more.
A United Airlines flight was diverted after the crash.
The airport also canceled all flights Monday morning, though they are expected to resume around noon.
A private C-130 aircraft made emergency landing, crashed and caught fire at the Santa Barbara Airport at 10:13 p.m. Sunday, August 25. 7 souls aboard/escaped w no injuries. SBA is currently closed until at least noon today. Check https://t.co/I4FKIbl6Js for live flight update.
— Santa Barbara Airport (@SBAirport) August 26, 2019
Video from the airport on Monday morning shows long lines of passengers waiting for flights to resume.
Passengers at Santa Barbara Airport are patiently waiting for word on when flights will resume after the C-130 crash last night. @KSBY pic.twitter.com/QCJWRYi8On
— Dustin Klemann (@Djklemann) August 26, 2019
Santa Maria Airport General Manager Chris Hastert told KEYT News that C-130s generally do not land at or take off from the airport at night.
—
This article was updated to reflect that the tip of the plane’s wing broke off, not the entire wing. American Military News regrets this error.
