An MC-12 surveillance aircraft crashed in southern Afghanistan on April 27, claiming the lives of four airmen, announced Air Forces Central Command on Sunday. According to a Pentagon release, the deceased airmen are: Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, 28, of Woodbridge, Va., assigned to the 906th Air Refueling Squadron at Scott AFB, Ill.; Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, 30, of Kailua, Hawaii, assigned to the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif.; SSgt. Richard A. Dickson, 24, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., assigned to the 306th Intelligence Squadron at Beale; and SSgt. Daniel N. Fannin, 30, of Morehead, Ky., assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron at Tinker AFB, Okla. The crash occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time in the province of Zabul, about 110 miles northeast of Kandahar Airfield, according to AFCENT. The airmen were serving with Kandahar’s 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Coalition forces secured the crash site and recovered the airmen’s remains, according to AFCENT. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Initial reporting indicated there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash, according to the Pentagon’s release.
Trump Says US Will Sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia
Nov. 17, 2025
President Donald Trump said he plans to sell F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, announcing his decision Nov. 17, a day before he meets the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.
