NEW DELHI -- An Indian Air Force's transport plane, C-130J Super Hercules, Friday crashed in the western state of Rajasthan, killing four defense personnel on board the ill- fated aircraft, one of the six acquired by India from the United States three years back, sources said.

"Some four defense personnel on board the aircraft were killed in the crash in the state's Karauli district near the bordering central state of Madhya Pradesh's town of Gwalior. The plane crashed after taking off on a routine sortie from an airbase in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh's town of Agra," the sources said.

The C-130J Super Hercules plane was used mainly for transportation purposes by the Indian Air Force and it was also deployed while assisting Malaysia in its search for the missing jet MH-370.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the sources added.