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CNN Sunday Morning

One Body Remains Unaccounted for in KC-130 Plane Crash

Aired January 13, 2002 - 10:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the investigation into the crash last Wednesday, that U.S. military refueling plane in western Pakistan. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the Pentagon with details on that search and investigation that's going on -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, investigators are still sorting through very carefully through the wreckage of that KC-130 refueling plane and they have had some success locating now a sixth body. That still leaves the body of one crewmember unaccounted for. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash that occurred, as you said, Wednesday on a remote hill in southwestern Pakistan.

Just like investigations of civilian plane crashes, this sort of thing can take weeks or perhaps even months. The four-engine turbo prop did have bladders of fuel on board. However, the Pentagon says that evidence at this point does not indicate that there was any sort of fire on the plane before it hit the ground.

Also officials here say that they do not believe that enemy fire played any role in what they're believing at this point was an accidental crash. The job that that plane performs is a very critical one, providing in-air refueling for as many as two aircraft at a time, as well as ferrying -- it can carry up to 100 soldiers, haul Humvees, five-ton trucks. So the Marine Corps air station Miramar at San Diego where this very same aircraft was based has now sent out a replacement KC-130, again, with an all-volunteer crew to carry on the important job of the plane that crashed Wednesday.

In Afghanistan, a third day now of very heavy bombing. U.S. B- 52s and other aircraft, again, used laser-guided bombs to target a complex of buildings and caves in the Zawar Kili region not far from the city of Khowst. It is believed that the cave and tunnel complex is there and the buildings there were used as a training base for al Qaeda fighters.

Back to you Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Koch, live from the Pentagon. Thank you so much for that update.

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