Says The Airplane Was Properly Loaded And Checked

National Airlines,  which is owned by National Air Cargo based in Orlando, FL, has identified the seven crewmembers who were fatally injured when a Boeing 747-400 operating in support of the U.S. military in Afghanistan went down Monday.

"All seven were dedicated aviation professionals and served National and our country well," the company said in a statement. "The flight, NCR 102, was carrying military vehicles out of Afghanistan. The crewmembers on NCR 102 were Brad Hasler, Pilot in Command, Trenton MI; Jeremy Lipka, Pilot in Command, Brooklyn MI; Jamie Brokaw, First Officer, Monroe MI; Rinku Summan, First Officer, Canton MI; Michael Sheets, Loadmaster, Ypsilanti MI; Timothy Garrett, Maintenance, Louisville KY; Gary Stockdale, Maintenance, Romulus MI."

In a separate statement, the company said that the plane was properly loaded and checked before attempting to depart from Bagram Air Base. "National Air Cargo will not speculate as to the cause of the accident involving National Flight NCR102," the statement says. "With our full cooperation, an investigation by appropriate authorities is under way, and we encourage everyone to join us in respecting that process and allowing it to take its appropriate course.

The company says that National Flight NCR102 was en route to Dubai from Camp Bastian and had stopped to refuel at Bagram Air Base. "The cargo contained within the aircraft was properly loaded and secured, and had passed all necessary inspections prior to departing Camp Bastian," the statement says. National Air Cargo said that the aircraft landed safely and uneventfully in Bagram, that no additional cargo or personnel was added during the stop in Bagram, and the aircraft's cargo was again inspected prior to departure.

FMI: www.nationalaircargo.com