The Puerto Rico Air National Guard on Thursday identified the nine troops killed when their C-130 cargo airplane crashed near Savannah, Ga., yesterday.
Nearly all the Guardsmen who perished in the fiery crash were married with children, according to the service. The C-130 had been headed to Arizona to be decommissioned and the cause of the incident is under investigation.
All nine belonged to the Air National Guard’s 156th Airlift Wing. Their years of service spanned from three years to 31. They are:
- Maj. José R. Román Rosado, a pilot with 18 years of service who is survived by a wife and two sons.
- Maj. Carlos Pérez Serra, a navigator with 23 years of service who is survived by a wife, two sons and daughter.
- 1st Lt. David Albandoz, a co-pilot with 16 years of service who is survived by his wife and daughter.
- Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, a mechanic with 21 years of service who is survived by two daughters and son.
- Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, who had 16 years of service and is survived by his wife and two sons.
- Master Sgt. Mario Braña, a flight engineer with 17 years of service who is survived by his mother and daughter.
- Master Sgt. Víctor Colón, who had 22 years of service and is survived by his wife and two daughters.
- Master Sgt. Eric Circuns, a loadmaster with 31 years of service who is survived by his wife, two step-daughters and son.
- Senior Airman Roberto Espada, who had three years of service and is survived by his grandmother.
