16 persons killed when a military plane crashed in U.S. state of Mississippi.

BBC is reporting that about 16 people have died when a US military plane crashed in the southern state of Mississippi at around 16:00 local time (9:00pm Nigerian time) Monday

The crash happened in LeFlore County, about 100 miles (160km) north of Jackson, the state capital and all the 16 occupants of the aircraft died

"Our men and women in uniform risk themselves every day to secure our freedom," said Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said the incident. He described it as 'tragedy'.

No official details were immediately available on the circumstances of the crash.

Mississippi outlet the Clarion-Ledger said the plane came down in a soybean field on the Sunflower-Leflore county line, and left a five-mile trail of debris. It said the FBI was assisting at the scene.