A C-130 Hercules military cargo aircraft flying from Azerbaijan to Turkey crashed yesterday in Georgian territory. According to information from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, there were 20 military personnel on board the aircraft, including the flight crew. Unfortunately, initial search and rescue operations confirmed that all of them perished. The technical or other factors that caused the crash are not yet known.
Military expert Üzeyir Cəfərov told Modern.az that it will only be possible to make a precise statement about the crash after an investigation has been conducted.
“Although the aircraft is reliable, this issue is under very strict control in Turkey. Details are changed from time to time, and current or major repair works are carried out. This is precisely why Turkey has been using C-130 type aircraft, which have proven themselves over many years.”
He stated that there are no parachutes on this type of aircraft because they are intended for military transport, not for civil aviation:
“During such crashes, survival is almost impossible.
C-130s are military cargo aircraft used primarily for transporting cargo and personnel, not for airborne troops. The causes of the crash could include an overlooked corrosion element, damage to the tail section, improper securing of the cargo, negligence, or many other factors.”
Ü.Cəfərov also noted that although the probability of external interference is low, this version will also be considered during the investigation:
"“This issue will be a special focus during the investigation of the "black box". Fraternal Turkey had continued to use these aircraft for many years, considering their reliability. It is likely that after the incident, C-130 flights will be temporarily suspended, and their operation will be re-authorized after the commission's final opinion.”
Military expert Ədalət Verdiyev, however, believes that the C-130 is a military transport aircraft that has been in use for many years and has proven its reliability:
“However, in such aircraft that have been in operation for 50-60 years, it is possible for invisible micro-cracks, decay, and corrosion marks to appear over time. These conditions can lead to a break in the connection between the aircraft's structural elements at high altitudes.
Another important factor is related to the securing of cargo inside the aircraft. If the cargo is not sufficiently firmly secured, its displacement or pendulum movement during maneuvers can affect the aircraft's balance. In such cases, the probability of the tail section breaking due to additional load increases.”
According to the expert, it is also clear from the images that the aircraft's fuselage separated into two parts, and the tail section fell to the ground earlier than the main fuselage:
“I would like to state that the crew was quite experienced. In such a situation, their chances of survival were, unfortunately, very low. Although C-130 aircraft are primarily intended for parachute airborne operations of personnel, only the investigation commission can determine whether the situation inside the aircraft at the moment of the crash allowed for parachuting. In my opinion, if such an opportunity existed, the personnel would certainly have taken advantage of it,” said Ə.Verdiyev.
