The co-pilot and engineer aboard a Portuguese Air Force C-130H had survived the crash of their aircraft at Montijo on Jul. 11. However, both men went back into the burning aircraft to save the pilot and the three lost their lives in the fire.
By Rafael Vieira (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The cargo plane is said to have lost power during take-off and ended up in a safety ditch at the end of the runway. Leaking fuel came into contact with the hot engines and spark off a fire.
Six of the seven on board managed to evacuate but the pilot, Lt. Col. Fernando Castro, was trapped in the aircraft.