17 Die in Crash of Jet Tanker

A refueling tanker jet bound for Hawaii crashed in a ball of flame Tuesday as it took off from Dyess Air Force Base, killing at least 17 people aboard, officials said.

Officials at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base near Marquette, Mich., where the flight originated, said the plane’s passengers included spouses of military members or retired military members. No children were believed to be on board.

The crew of the KC-135 tanker “never got it off the ground,” said Vernon Wright, 19, who saw the crash. “The first thing I saw was just the mushroom of the smoke.”

“I heard the plane as it was coming down,” said Skeet Jackson of Abilene. “Engines were backfiring and missing. It curved off to the left and crashed, and then I saw the ball of smoke and fire go up.”

Air Force Lt. Col. George Peck at Strategic Air Command headquarters in Omaha said that at least 17 people were killed. He added that there was no evidence the crew had radioed for help before the crash.

The plane was on a training mission from Dyess to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, a spokeswoman said.

Sources in Washington said the plane was almost fully loaded with jet fuel, carrying 155,000 pounds, including its own fuel and fuel to be transferred to some F-16 fighter jets as they crossed the Pacific Ocean.

Air Force officials said the tanker crashed near the south end of the base runway, near U.S. 277 and about 6 miles southwest of Abilene.

The maintenance record for the plane, powered by four Pratt & Whitney jet engines, was not yet available, Peck said.

It was the second crash at Dyess in less than three months. A B-1B bomber crashed there Nov. 8, a B-1B bomber crashed there after its crew of four bailed out to safety.