9 Puerto Rican Airmen Killed In C130 Crash Identified

PORT WENTWORTH, GA — Nine airmen belonging to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard were killed when a C130 cargo plane traveling to Arizona to be retired crashed near the Savannah-Hilton Head Airport, officials said Thursday.

Col. Pete Boone, the vice wing commander of the 165th airlift wing, said at a press conference Thursday that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.

The Puerto Rico Air National Guard identified the airmen killed in the crash as:

Maj. José R. Roman Rosado, the pilot of the plane who had 18 years of service. Rosado was from Manati, Puerto Rico and he is survived by a wife and two sons.

Maj. Carlos Pérez Serra, a navigator with 23 years of service. Serra was from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico and is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

1st Lt. David Albandoz, co-pilot with 16 years of service. Originally from Puerto Rico, Albandoz was recently living in Madison, Alabama. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, a mechanic with 21 years of service. Paravisini was from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico and is survived by two daughters and a son.

Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, 16 years of service. Audriffred was from Carolina, Puerto Rico and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Master Sgt. Mario Braña, a flight engineer with 17 years of service. Braña was from Bayamón, Puerto Rico and is survived by his mother and daughter.

Master Sgt. Victor Colón, with 22 years of service. Colón was from Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Master Sgt. Eric Circuns, a loadmaster with 31 years of service. Circuns was from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He is survived by his wife, two step-daughters and a son.

Senior Airman Roberto Espada, three years of service. Espada was from Salinas, Puerto Rico and is survived by his grandmother.

“Taking care of our fallen Airmen’s families and loved ones is our top priority,” Rivera said in a statement. “We are fully supporting them and providing all the assistance and resources of the Puerto Rico National Guard during this difficult moment.”

The plane went down around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and one video apparently caught on a business' security camera showed the plane nosediving to the ground. Photos from the scene of the crash showed flames on either side of the plane and thick black smoke engulfing the aircraft. The plane had just taken off from Savannah-Hilton Head Airport before the crash.

Boone said the plane was manufactured in the late 70s and was in Savannah for maintenance. Boone said reports that the plane was 60 years old were not true.

However, Adjutant Gen. Isabelo Rivera, of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, told the Associated Press that the aircraft was more than 60 years old.

"The planes that we have in Puerto Rico -- it's not news today that they are the oldest planes on inventory" among all National Guard planes nationwide, and they often face delays in getting spare parts shipped to the island, he said.

The pilot of the plane, Maj. Jose Rafael Roman, had two sons and his wife is five-months pregnant with a girl, according to the AP.

"My condolences to the relatives of pilot manatieño, major José Rafael Román Rosado of the national guard who died in the tragic air crash," José Sánchez, the mayor of Manati wrote in a Facebook post in Spanish. "In Honor will be the flags of our administration at half-mast in mourning for two days from today. A lot of strength and our prayers and comfort for his whole family."

At the press conference Thursday, Boone said he could not confirm whether all the airmen's bodies had been recovered from the crash. The AP reports that all nine airmen had helped with hurricane recovery efforts.

Patch will update this report.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Photo: Wreckage is strewn across Route 21 where an Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane crashed May 2, 2018 in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The 50-year-old plane, belonging to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, crashed near the coastal city of Savannah on its way to Tuscon, Arizona, where it was to be decommissioned. All nine people aboard were killed. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images News/Getty Images)