Turkish C-130 Hercules Breaks Apart Mid-Air Before Crashing
On November 11, a Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed in Georgia after breaking apart mid-flight. The aircraft, identified as Lockheed Martin C-130E Hercules with registration number 68-01609, was en route from Azerbaijan to Turkiye.
Flight Details
- Call sign: TUAF543
- Departure point: Ganja International Airport, Azerbaijan
- Departure time: 10:19 UTC
- Last signal received: 10:49:20 UTC
- Altitude reached: 24,000 ft
The Incident
The aircraft disintegrated mid-air near the municipality of Sighnaghi, Georgia, close to the Azerbaijan border. Witnesses and footage indicate that the fuselage separated, with the cockpit and tail section detaching from the central body, though the wings remained attached to part of the fuselage.
“The aircraft broke apart before crashing in mountainous terrain near Sighnaghi, around 40 miles from the Azerbaijan border.”
Victims and Aftermath
According to the Turkish Defence Ministry, 20 people, including the flight crew, were on board at the time of the crash. Later reports confirmed that all 20 individuals perished in the tragedy. The wreckage was discovered in a remote mountainous area.
Aircraft Background
The C-130E Hercules was originally delivered to the Saudi Royal Air Force in the late 1960s and later acquired by Turkiye in 2010. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was 56 years old.
Author’s summary: The Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules, a 56-year-old transport aircraft, broke apart over Georgia near the Azerbaijan border, killing all 20 people aboard.