Eight years ago, nine airmen died in C-130 crash on HWY 21

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) - On May 2, 2018, nine members of the 156th Airlift Wing Puerto Rico Air National Guard died in a plane crash on Highway 21 while heading to Arizona.

The Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane from Puerto Rico crashed near the intersection of Highway 21 and Crossgate Road.

Their mission, as WTOC has reported on, was to deliver the C-130 aircraft from Savannah to an Air Force base where it would be decommissioned.

The U.S. Airforce said engine malfunction and pilot error caused the aircraft to crash nose-first.

The names of the fallen airmen are:

• Maj. Jose Rafael Roman
• Maj. Carlos Pérez Serra
• 1st Lt. David Albandoz – Co-Pilot
• Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini
• Master Sgt. Jean Audiffred
• Master Sgt. Mario Braña
• Master Sgt. Víctor Colón
• Master Sgt. Eric Circuns
• Senior Airman Roberto Espada