The Dubai-bound Boeing 747-400 was operated by National Air Cargo and crashed just after takeoff from Bagram Air Base, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement Tuesday. PHOTO: AP

BELLEVILLE — Six of the seven crew members who were killed on board a National Airlines cargo jet that crashed this week in Afghanistan were from Michigan. Family members of the Michigan victims met privately at a hotel in Belleville on Tuesday with Company officials to obtain more information about the incident. 

Bill Hasler believes his brother, Brad, who was married to his longtime girlfriend just two weeks ago, may be one of the victims. The couple has two children and one on the way. According to reports, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, but the U.S. says the claim is false. The flight was on its way to Dubai.