Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the aircraft broken apart mid-air before impact. The fuselage disintegrates, with the forward section falling separately while the wingbox spins toward the ground and explodes upon impact. The tail section appears to be missing.
Aircraft: Lockheed C-130EM Hercules
Registration: 68-1609
Serial Number: 382-4311
The C130 was carrying service members who had taken part in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations. About 30 minutes into the flight, the plane lost altitude and broke apart mid-air over a mountainous area near the Georgian border. A Turkish expert and retired military officer Coşkun Başbuğ noted on CNN Türk, a technical malfunction "should be ruled out" as the cause of the crash. "Various possibilities should be considered, but the first thing to consider is that the C-130 is a time-tested military transport aircraft, the last known incident involving which occurred in 1982."
Turkey has operated Lockheed C130 Hercules aircraft since the 1960s, and they’re known for being reliable, though some are now 50–60 years old. In October, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced plans to replace them with newer C130J Super Hercules models, with deliveries expected in the coming years. All debris from the crash has been gathered for technical analysis, but the exact cause has yet to be determined.
The C-130 Hercules military transport plane that went down yesterday had been flying for more than 50 years. Built in 1968, it first served with the Saudi Arabian Air Force before being acquired by the Turkish Armed Forces in 2010. Since then, it had been stationed at the 12th Air Base in Kayseri as part of the 222nd “Rhinoceros” Squadron, according to Turkish media.
Aircraft Information:
Owner / Operator: Turkish AirforceAircraft: Lockheed C-130EM Hercules
Registration: 68-1609
Serial Number: 382-4311
Sending thoughts and prayers to the families, friends, and the Turkish Air Force during this challenging time.
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