Image Source: TRIBUNE

A Canadian-owned Hercules C-130 air tanker crashed while fighting bushfires in Australia's alpine region on Thursday, killing all three of its crew, authorities said.

All three victims were American residents, Australian authorities said, adding that they did not immediately know why the plane crashed.

"Tragically, there appear to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area," said Shane Fitzsimmons, the Rural Fire Services Commissioner for New South Wales state.