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Three dead after air tanker crashes battling bush fires in NSW

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Jan 2020, 6:46PM
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service is investigating reports of a "serious incident" involving an air tanker. Photo / Suppied
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service is investigating reports of a "serious incident" involving an air tanker. Photo / Suppied

Three dead after air tanker crashes battling bush fires in NSW

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Jan 2020, 6:46PM

There's confirmation now that an air tanker which was helping fight bush fires in New South Wales, has crashed.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that three people have died after an RFS air tanker crashed while fighting fires East of Cooma.

"Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families," she said.

"It was a company contracted by the RFS to undertake that vital work and, again, our deepest condolences to those families who have been impacted.

"It demonstrates the dangerous work currently being undertaken and it also demonstrates the conditions that our firefighters are working under."

The large C-130 aircraft is understood to have crashed around 1.45pm near Peak View while conducting water bombing on large fires in the area.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it appears no one on board the aircraft survived the crash.

"Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area.

"It's impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground.

"We've got a number of firefighters and a number of crew that are in the area and working to contain and work around the fire.

"It is still an active fire ground. It did take some time with the use of ground crews and a number of aerial surveillance platforms to try to locate the wreckage."

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