Turkish Air Force C-130 Breaks Apart Mid-Flight Over Caucasus
A Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transport aircraft operated by the Turkish Air Force experienced a catastrophic structural failure while flying over the Republic of Georgia.
Footage shared on social media shows a section of the aircraft’s fuselage and wing spiraling downwards before crashing to the ground. The four turboprop engines remain attached to the wing structure during the descent.
Incident Details
- The crash occurred on November 11 near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
- The aircraft was departing from Azerbaijan en route to Turkey.
- The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed the crash and stated search and rescue operations are ongoing.
- Operations involve coordination between Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.
- According to Turkish officials cited by Radio Free Europe, there were 20 people on board.
Aircraft and Fleet Information
Turkey operates 18 C-130B/E models, all legacy aircraft more than 50 years old. These planes have been upgraded to the C-130EM standard, which includes modern cockpit avionics and digital communication systems, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
“One of our C-130 military cargo aircraft, which was taking off from Azerbaijan to come to our country, has crashed at the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.” — Turkish Defence Ministry
Source: Turkish Defence Agency
Summary
The Turkish Air Force C-130 suffered a mid-flight breakup over Georgia on November 11, with rescue efforts underway for the 20 onboard as authorities cooperate across borders.