2nd LD: U.S. military aircraft crashes in U.S. state of Georgia, killing at least two

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- An U.S. military plane on Wednesday crashed in southern state Georgia, killing at least two people, according to local officials.

The incident, which involved a WC-130 Hercules airplane from the Air National Guard, took place just before noon local time near the city of Savannah, local firefighters said. The County deputy coroner has reportedly confirmed that two people had died in the crash.

Local media quoted the Federal Aviation Administration as saying that the plane, carrying five, which was bound for an air base in Arizona, crashed shortly after taking off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Witnesses said as the plane crashed near a road, cars may have been crushed by the plane.

According to the footage shot at the scene, heavy black smoke and flame can be seen coming out of the plane.

The cause of the incident is not immediately clear.

The C-130 Hercules is a military transport plane that first went into service in the 1950s. The WC-130 is a modification of the model that specializes in weather reconnaissance. Enditem