Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Representatives of the US bishops expressed sorrow after three US fire-fighters died in an air crash while fighting bushfires in Australia.
“As the people of Australia continue to endure terrible fires, let us renew our prayer and generosity. Today, the suffering was brought even closer to home with the loss of three brave American crew members who died in the crash of a tanker airplane used in fighting wildfires in Australia.
“We join in prayerful solidarity with their families and with all the people of Australia and all those in regions affected by these terrible fires,” said a statement from Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop David Malloy of Rockford, Illinois, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace.
The three Americans were among eight fire-fighters and 31 people in total who have died in the wildfires since September.
Crash
The Americans, all military veterans, were identified as Captain Ian McBeth, 44; First Officer Paul Hudson, 42; and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan J., 43. They died when the C-130 aerial water tanker they were in crashed in New South Wales.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who are suffering from this tragedy and from the disaster these dedicated professionals were fighting,” said the statement from Archbishop Coakley and Bishop Malloy.