16 dead after Marine Corps refueling tanker crashes in Mississippi



ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) — Officials have found 16 bodies from a Marine Corps plane that crashed in rural Mississippi.

Leflore County Emergency Management Director Fred Randle told local media late Monday that 16 bodies were recovered after the KC-130 refueling tanker spiraled to the ground into a soybean field about 85 miles north of Jackson.

The Marine Corps says it operated the plane but has provided no information on where the flight originated or where it was going.



Andy Jones says he was working on his family's catfish farm when he heard a boom and looked up and saw the plane corkscrewing down to the ground.



"A USMC KC-130 mishap occurred the evening of July 10," the U.S. Marines confirmed on Twitter. "Further information will be released as available."

The plane crashed in a field near County Road 237 and Highway 82, which is near the Leflore County/Sunflower County line.



Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant posted on Facebook, "Please join Deborah and me in praying for those hurting after this tragedy. Our men and women in uniform risk themselves every day to secure our freedom."

It's not yet clear what route the plane was flying.

Investigators are still working to locate the other people who were aboard and determine the cause of the crash.



This is a developing story.