16 people killed in military crash at Moorehead and Itta Bena Roads in Leflore County, Mississippi

The plane could be seen burning and producing large clouds of black smoke from Highway 82.   

A U.S. military plane used for refueling crashed into a soybean field in rural Mississippi, killing at least 16 people aboard in a fiery wreckage and spreading debris for miles, officials said.   

The U.S. military plane that crashed in a soybean field in rural Mississippi killing at least 16 people on board originated from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.  

The plane is believed to have exploded in mid-air. Investigators said they found debris on both sides of the highway, leading them to believe an explosion happened prior to the crash.   

Marine Corps Maj. Andrew Aranda says Tuesday that the flight of the KC-130T originated Monday from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The plane was taking people and equipment to Naval Air Field El Centro, California, when it crashed Monday afternoon in a soybean field near Itta Bena, Mississippi.

Dan Baldassare, 20, of Colts Neck, was killed Monday when the KC-130 military plane he was on crashed in rural Mississippi.     

It’s not clear how far apart the sites are, but one lies about a half-mile north of US 82 and the other a half-mile south of the highway.

Owen Lennon, who grew up in Ramapo, was one of 15 Marines who perished in the crash. One Navy Corpsman also perished in the crash.

A Dallas family is in mourning after finding out Staff Sgt. Joshua Snowden, 31, was one of 15 Marines killed Monday in a military plane crash.