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Immediate Release

Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the C-130 Crash in Afghanistan

I was saddened to hear about the tragic C-130 crash which took the lives of six U.S. airmen and five civilian contractors in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  While we are still trying to determine exactly what happened, this is a reminder of the risks that our men and women face serving their country in remote places all over the world.  Let us not forget the importance of their service, and the critical mission they died supporting.  My thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time.  I also want to express my condolences to the families of the Afghans killed in this tragedy. We remain committed with our coalition partners to helping the people of Afghanistan build a secure and peaceful country.