U.S., Albanian recovery teams continue to work at crash site

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STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN (AFPN) --  U.S. and Albanian rescue and recovery teams are working continuously at the site of the U.S. MC-130H Combat Talon II crash, located about 35 miles southeast of Tirana, Albania. The aircraft went down the evening of March 31 while on a night training mission.

Officials said the U.S. military will continue to withhold confirmation of the status of the nine-member crew until all people on board are positively identified and accounted for.

“The leadership of Special Operations Command, Europe, asks for patience and understanding while we conduct our operations at the site out of respect for the crewmembers' families at this extremely difficult time,” U.S. European Command officials said. “We will update you as soon as confirmed information becomes available.”

The aircraft was conducting joint combined exchange training with the Albanian military.

U.S. officials said the Albanian government and military have assisted in rescue operations from the beginning of the search and recovery operation.

U.S. military officials are investigating the cause of the crash. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service and U.S. European Command)