Press Releases

Memorial Service for U.S. Servicemen Killed in C-130 Crash (May 19, 2005)

The United States Office of Defense Cooperation and the Albanian Ministry of Defense conducted a memorial ceremony on May 19th, 2:00 pm, to remember nine U.S. Servicemen killed in a plane crash in Albania March 31st. Albanian President Moisu, Defense Minster Majko, U.S. Ambassador Ries and the Commander U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, Major General Csrnko and many members of the lost C-130 crew’s squadron were among the guests paying respects. The memorial was held at the Albanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command auditorium.

All nine Servicemen were aboard a U.S. C-130 aircraft, based out of Mildenhall Airbase in the United Kingdom. The C-130 crashed in a remote mountainous area about 50 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tirana. The aircraft was on a joint training mission with the Albanian military. The downed aircraft was conducting a night training mission.

The U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Embassy, Tirana, have been very thankful for Albanian support to this tragedy. Albanian military and civil authorities responded immediately to the downed plane for search and rescue, protecting the crash site and helping in recovery operations over the last six weeks.

The United States Military has a very cooperative relationship with Albania in training and equipping their armed forces for eventual NATO membership and ongoing operations around the world.