7 American Crew Members Killed In 747 Cargo Plane Crash At Bagram Airbase [VIDEO]

On the morning of April 29, a dash cam caught video of a Boeing 747-400 cargo plane crashing after taking off from Bagram Airbase, which is located north of Kabul, Afghanistan. The plane, which held 7 crew members, as well as 5 military vehicles and routine general cargo, erupted into flames near the end of the runway within the airbase; all of the crew members are reported to have perished.

Afghan Authorities immediately denied claims that the crash was the result of enemy activities and, according to a listener on frequency, the crew reported that the aircraft stalled due to a possible load shift shortly after takeoff. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the downed 747, but NATO sources informed The Associated Press that these "claims are false;" there were no signs of insurgent activity in the area at the time of the crash. Investigations are being spearheaded by the Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Commercial Aviation, with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board, along with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.

Shirley Kaufman, the Vice President of National Air Cargo, the company that owns National Airlines and the plane, did confirm that of those killed, four were pilots, two mechanics, and the last individual was the load master.

National Airlines President Glen Joerger released the following statement:

"This is a devastating loss for our family and we'll work diligently with authorities to find the cause. Most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with our crewmembers and their families."

Six of the victims were from Michigan and are identified as Brad Hasler, Jeremy Lipka, Jamie Brokaw, Rinku Summan, Michael Sheets, and Gary Stockdale. The last victim, Timothy Garrett, was from Kentucky.