Turkish C-130 Hercules Breaks Apart Mid-Air Before Crash
On 11 November, a Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed in Georgia after disintegrating in mid-air. The aircraft was carrying 20 people, including the flight crew.
Flight Details and Incident Location
The plane had departed from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC and was heading to Turkiye. The crash occurred near the municipality of Sighnaghi in Georgia, close to the Azerbaijan border.
Aircraft Disintegration and Flight Data
Video footage shows the aircraft breaking into pieces during descent, with the cockpit and tail section detached from the center wing box. The wings remained attached to part of the fuselage. The aircraft flew under the call sign TUAF543 and reached a cruising altitude of 24,000 feet. The last ADS-B signal was recorded at 10:49:20 UTC.
Aircraft History
- Type: 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
- Aircraft age: 56 years
Casualties and Recovery
The Defence Ministry of Turkiye confirmed all 20 people on board died in the crash. The wreckage was located in a mountainous area near Sighnaghi, about 40 miles from the Azerbaijan border.
“20 people, including the flight crew, were on board the Hercules at the time of the crash.” – Defence Ministry of Turkiye
Author's summary: A 56-year-old Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules broke apart mid-flight near Georgia's border with Azerbaijan, killing all 20 on board.