Officials say the current focus on the investigation of a July 10 plane crash in western Leflore County is on “preservation of equipment and impact sites” — namely, retrieving and archiving all pieces of the aircraft and its cargo at the crash sites and maintaining the integrity of the scene.
Additionally, spokespersons for the Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs division said they have a team of professionals deployed to the county to focus on remediation of the land and “working with landowners and other stakeholders to ensure their lives are not impacted by this tragedy.”
A military KC-130T airplane broke apart and crashed over a large area, leaving one section of debris on the north side of U.S. 82, where the majority of 16 deceased passengers were found, and another on the south side of 82 in a soybean field, the site of a large fire.
Remains of all 16 aboard — 15 Marines and one Navy sailor — have been recovered.
On Friday, a controlled detonation at the south crash site disposed of “a variety of small arms and ammunition” that were recovered by crews across the nearly 5-mile-wide debris field. The Marines have not been specific about the amount or nature of the arms and ammunition the plane was carrying.
Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday visited the site and declared it a state of emergency, warning that anyone trespassing on the site or removing any evidence could face prosecution for state and federal offenses.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 is now on site with heavy equipment assets that were brought to control headquarters at the county incubator building late last week and parked next door at a former gas station site on U.S. 82.
“They are there to assist in the investigation and preservation and removal of equipment and debris,” officials said.
The investigation into what caused the crash continues. Military officials have not commented on any findings.
Many troops have flown and rolled in and out of the county over the week since the crash. Currently on the ground are a variety of units including Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Corps Special Operations Command.
A unit from Fort Worth, Texas, that arrived at Greenwood-Leflore Airport last Thursday is a detachment of Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, which falls under Marine Forces Reserve.
Officials said Marine Wing Support squadron provides ground support to Marine Corps aviation units and consists of a variety of Marines with expertise in logistics, construction, engineering and other support capabilities.
Marine Public Affairs thanked Mississippi Valley State University and others who “have graciously opened their doors to us as yet another example of the outstanding support this community has provided us. It is truly humbling.”
Valley is providing dorm accommodations for 150 Marines.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has also issued an update, indicating which state agencies are assisting the Marines in the plane crash recovery.
MEMA has deployed a Multi-Agency Coordination Team to Leflore County, a Mobile Command Trailer for on-site command and five industrial field tents and generators as cooling stations for those involved in recovery operations.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is assisting the Marine Corps with collection and storage of plane debris. The Highway Patrol continues to provide perimeter security of the crash sites. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms are helping to document and classify recovered debris.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is assisting the Marines in drone and personnel searches of aircraft debris, and has been geo-tagging the items for collection and classification.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is working in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Marines to ensure safe and effective cleanup of the crash sites.
The Mississippi Department of Animal Health and Mississippi State University’s mobile veterinary clinic are on hand to support K-9 operations helping to support the search for debris.
Meanwhile, volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Mississippi Southern Baptist Association’s mobile unit in Greenwood continue to provide three meals per day to all those assisting with recovery operations. Many other local churches and organizations in the area have provided an abundance of snacks, drinks and volunteers to help serve food.
Leflore County emergency authorities are requesting that all non-cash donations no longer be delivered to the county business incubator building, which is saturated with donations at this point, but to North Greenwood Baptist Church at 615 Grand Blvd. in Greenwood. Questions about non-cash donations should be directed to the church’s pastor, Dr. Jim Phillips, at 392-3474 or Leflore County Emergency Management at 299-2600.
• Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
