Survivors of military cargo plane crash say engine failed

By Holly Fleming

Published on April 12, 2006

Retired Navy chief petty officer Paul Kath and his wife, Hanna, said they felt something was amiss during takeoff. All 17 passengers aboard the C-5 survived the April 3 crash.

The engines didn't sound right and it seemed they were not getting power, Paul Kath said.

Minutes after it took off, the plane attempted to return to the runway and instead landed on its belly in a field. The plane did not catch fire, but the nose, tail, and one of the four engines broke off. The wreckage stretched for hundreds of yards.

Air Force officials have not determined the cause, but the plane's crew reported an engine problem 10 minutes after takeoff and declared an emergency.

The four-engine plane was full of supplies for U.S. troops in Iraq.

The military has released no details about the crash.

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