What happened
During the night, a C-130 Hercules was taken without authorization from its parking position at RAF Mildenhall. The individual responsible for operating the aircraft was a member of the US Air Force who intended to fly the plane to the United States. After departing the airfield under cover of darkness, the aircraft traveled south across the English Channel.
While in flight over the water, the pilot lost control of the C-130 Hercules. The aircraft subsequently impacted the surface of the sea approximately 48 km north of Alderney Island. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and the death of the one fatality on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the person operating the aircraft did not possess a valid pilot license. Furthermore, the individual had no legal authorization to operate the aircraft or perform the takeoff from the military installation.