Turkish C-130 Hercules Breaks Apart Mid-Air Before Crash
On 11 November, a Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed in the border region between Azerbaijan and Georgia after breaking apart in mid-air, killing all 20 people on board.
Flight Details and Crash Location
The aircraft, call sign TUAF543, had departed from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC, heading to Turkiye. It climbed to a cruising altitude of 24,000 feet before the last ADS-B signal was received at 10:49:20 UTC.
The crash occurred near the municipality of Sighnaghi in Georgia, close to the Azerbaijan border. The wreckage was found in a mountainous area around 40 miles from Azerbaijan.
Aircraft Description
- Model: Lockheed Martin C-130E Hercules
- Registration: 68-01609
- Originally delivered to the Saudi Royal Air Force in the late 1960s
- Acquired by Turkiye in 2010
- Age: 56 years
Eyewitness Footage and Crash Dynamics
Footage shows the plane breaking apart mid-air, with the cockpit and tail section separating from the central wing box, though the wings remained attached to part of the fuselage.
Casualties
The Defence Ministry of Turkiye confirmed that 20 people, including the flight crew, were on board and sadly all perished in the crash.
Summary
The 56-year-old Turkish C-130 Hercules disintegrated mid-flight near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border, resulting in the loss of all 20 people aboard.
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