This is (was...) 16804, the Hercules C-130 from
the Portuguese Air Force, that crashed on Monday in Montijo AB, which cost the
lives of three soldiers. I had the opportunity to photograph it one last time,
on July 4, eight days before the fatal accident.
At the precise moment that the plane carrying
the national football team back to Portugal touched the runway at Lisbon
Airport, across the Tagus River the Portuguese C-130 burst in flames. However, the
most sadness thing is the fact that Portuguese TV channels did not cut the
broadcast of the arrival of the national team to transmit these news. Some text
notes, and little or nothing else... I can say that I was already sick of
seeing the National Team, because in whatever the Portuguese channel, either public
or private, these were the images that came to my eyes. And when finally
appeared news relatively to the Air Force plane, not even two minutes lasted!
In fact, this reflects the Portuguese mentality
on its generality, where it is given more attention to the football team,
which, by winning about half a dozen games (congrats to them), his players are
considered heroes and decorated, when the true heroes are these men, that anonymously
give their life to serve the country! How many lives this squad, and perhaps
even some of the crew members in question have saved? From search and rescue
missions to humanitarian missions in the service of the United Nations in
Africa. Perhaps they helped some of the readers of this text, since these were
the same aircraft that on the 20 February 2010 and on the fires in 2012 brought
the help needed in Madeira on those times, for example mobile bridges and human
resources.
It is commendable the attitude that two members
of this crew had! After they had both left the crashed aircraft, and realizing
that his superior Lieutenant Colonel, also Commander of the C-130, was trapped
inside the cockpit, they returned to rescue him. Unfortunately, the three men ended
up not surviving.
It is in this way that, not only the military,
but all those who serve the country earn my respect.
Finally, my condolences to all my friends and
acquaintances in the Portuguese Air Force, as well as to the relatives and
friends of the victims.
Lockheed C-130H Hercules, 16804, Força Aérea Portuguesa
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