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All runways back open at Santa Barbara Airport following C-130 crash

Posted at 10:53 PM, Aug 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-27 19:35:22-04

UPDATE (Tues. 4:30 p.m.) - The Santa Barbara Airport announced Tuesday afternoon that all runways are now back open.
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UPDATE (4:47 p.m.) - The main runway at the Santa Barbara Airport reopened around 4:45 p.m. Monday, about 18 hours after a C-130 plane crashed on the runway causing the airport to shut down.

Two other runways will remain closed until the wrecked plane is removed. It's currently located about 500 feet south of the main runway.

The airport advises travelers to check with their airline for the latest information regarding flights.
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UPDATE (12 p.m.) - The Santa Barbara Airport remains closed following the crash of a C-130 at the airport Sunday night.

Airport officials had hoped to resume flights by noon Monday but FAA investigators remain on scene investigating and the plane has not been moved off the runway.

Officials expect to have a better idea around 4 p.m. on when flights will begin landing and taking off again.

In the meantime, travelers are advised to check their airline for updated information or visit flysba.com for flight schedules.

A large crane is expected to be brought in to help move the plane.

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UPDATE (10:50 a.m.) - Santa Barbara Airport officials say FAA investigators have arrived at the airport where a C-130 plane crashed Sunday night. The airport remains closed.

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UPDATE (6:30 a.m.) - Santa Barbara Airport officials say they are aiming to fully reopen the airport and resume flights by noon Monday.

Travelers filled the terminal early Monday, waiting to find out when flights would start taking off and landing again after a C-130 airplane crashed on the runway late Sunday night.

Numerous arriving and departing flights have been canceled or delayed.

Neither airport officials nor the FAA or NTSB have released any further details about the C-130 crash.

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UPDATE (5:30 a.m.) - A plane crash at the Santa Barbara Airport late Sunday night is causing issues for travelers Monday morning.

Numerous flights are canceled or delayed Monday as airport officials work to figure out how to remove the large C-130 transport plane off of the airfield. The aircraft crashed on its belly with one wing touching the ground.

Everyone on board was okay. The cause of the crash will be investigated by the NTSB.

An average of 2,100 passengers arrive and depart from Santa Barbara Airport everyday.

Of six departing flights Monday, three are canceled and three are delayed.

Five arriving flights have been canceled.

The C-130 is most commonly used for military purposes. Santa Barbara County Fire officials say the aircraft is privately owned.

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UPDATE (3:15 a.m.) - The Federal Aviation Administration is releasing new details about the plane crash at the Santa Barbara Airport Sunday night.

FAA officials say a Lockheed C-130 had "hydraulic problems" shortly after taking off from the Santa Maria Airport on its way to Pheonix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

According to the FAA, the aircraft's crew declared an emergency and diverted to the Santa Barbara Airport.

The C-130 landed on the runway in Goleta at about 10:30 p.m. but skidded off the runway and onto the infield, FAA officials tell KSBY.

Of the seven people on board the airplane, none were hurt.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash but the cause of the crash-landing could take a year or more to determine, according to the FAA official KSBY spoke with.

The Santa Barbara Airport's website shows a flight departing to Phoenix at 6:22 a.m is delayed and a 9:40 a.m. departing flight is also canceled. A flight arriving from Pheonix at 8:49 a.m. is canceled too. Otherwise, the airport is continuing operations as normal Monday morning.

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UPDATE (12:35 a.m.) - A man who says he witnessed the crash tells KSBY he was just leaving work at the Santa Barbara Airport when he saw the plane skid on the runway.

The witness says the aircraft slid for what appeared to be 500-800 feet before coming to a stop leaving flaming debris on the runway.

He says the plane's registration number is N119TG.

According to FlightAware.com, a plane with that same registration number left Hilo, Hawaii Sunday around 9:30 a.m. (HST) and arrived at the Santa Maria Airport (SMX) around 9 p.m. The website shows it left SMX around 10 p.m.

Chris Hastert, manager of the Santa Maria Airport, confirms there was a C-130 at the airport Sunday evening. He says the airport is frequently used as a stopover for planes that travel to and from Hawaii because of its proximity to the islands.

It is unclear what the C-130 was doing at the airport and where it was headed next.

Hastert says although he can't confirm the C-130 he saw at the SMX airport Sunday evening is the same one that crashed at the Santa Barbara Airport, he does say it is highly unlikely another C-130 would have been at the airport the same day.

FlightAware.com says the aircraft belongs to International Air Response based in Mesa, Arizona. We have reached out to representatives there and are waiting to hear back.

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UPDATE (11:30 p.m.) - Santa Barbara Airport security confirms 7 people were on board the aircraft, however there are no reports of injury.

Airport officials say the plane declared an emergency and crash landed on the primary runway (runway 7).

There was a fire initially, but fire crews have put out the flame.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are expected to investigate the cause of the crash.

The airport is closed until further notice.

Initial reports came in at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Airport officials say they do not believe the aircraft is associated with military personnel.

We are unable to confirm where the plane came from.
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Emergency crews responding to a plane crash near the Santa Barbara Airport.

Santa Barbara City Fire says there were reports of a large military aircraft crashing at the SBA.

Crews say a fire may be involved but no word on the extent of it.

SBA plane crash response

They are still trying to confirm if there are any fatalities and number of passengers.

No word on where the plane was traveling from, but it is believed to be a C-130.

This is a developing story, check back for details