Five die as Italian air force plane crashes on railway line

C-130 training flights ends in tragedy as it neared Pisa military airport
Military C-130 transport plane with five people aboard crashes soon after takeoff from Pisa airport
A military C-130 transport plane crashed near Pisa airport killing all five personnel aboard Photograph: Pernici-Del-Macchia/EPA

All five crew members aboard an Italian air force transport plane died today when it crashed on to rail tracks near a military airport in the Tuscan city of Pisa and burst into flames, according to Italian authorities. Colonel Mauro Gabetta of the air force said the C-130 was on a training flight and had been approaching the airport when it suddenly veered away and crashed. The cause of the crash was under investigation. The Pisa fire department said the plane crashed on to railway tracks, setting fire to electrical wires. There was no train in the area at the time.