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Air Tanker Crash: NSW Flags Fly At Half Mast To Honour Three US Crew Killed While Fighting Bushfires

Flags in NSW flew at half mast on Friday to honour the three American firefighters who were killed after an air tanker crashed in the Snowy Monaro region of NSW while fighting bushfires.

The Canadian-owned C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed while waterbombing the alpine region on Thursday, killing all three of its crew, authorities said.

“Out of respect for the three US firefighters who lost their lives operating a Large Air Tanker, flags will fly at half mast in NSW tomorrow,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a Tweet on Friday.

She confirmed a February 23 state memorial will follow.

The victims were American residents, with NSW Police confirming the three men were aged aged 42, 43 and 45.

It was not immediately known why the plane crashed while carrying a load of fire retardant.

“Tragically, there appear to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area,” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

″(The tanker) 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. There is no indication at this stage of what’s caused the accident.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid his respects on Twitter calling the crash a “terrible tragedy.”

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