The C-160D involved in the accident is one of two special mission aircraft equipped with electronic warfare jamming systems.
On January 25, 2024, a Turkish Air Force C-160D Transall aircraft experienced an unknown technical problem shortly after takeoff from Kayseri Erkile Airport near the city of Kayseri in the central region of Cappadocia, forcing the crew to return to the airport. Make an emergency landing at the airfield.
During the approach, the aircraft flew very low over the city of Kayseri (the crew appeared to be fighting to somehow stay airborne), and was filmed by several people on the ground. The clip immediately went viral on social media.
A Turkish Air Force Transall C-160 military transport plane taking off for training in Kayseri was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical failure.
The aircraft sustained minor damage, but the pilot and crew are in good health. pic.twitter.com/YZn6PI12dZ
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 25, 2024
The team did well and did not cause any accidents in the city. pic.twitter.com/JfOvk5HbsF
— TangoTangorima (@Ttltlg) January 25, 2024
The aircraft involved in the accident, serial number 69-036, is a very interesting C-160D, one of two special mission aircraft in the so-called MilKar-2U configuration for electronic warfare (EW) radio frequency jamming systems. Although rarely seen overseas, aircraft from 221 Filo (Squadron) attracted much attention from air watchers and were one of the highlights of Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2019.
The crew safely ejected the aircraft, which ran off the runway after an emergency landing, and the C-160 suffered only minor damage, according to a statement released by the Turkish Air Force. However, images circulated online appear to show significant damage to the aircraft.
The world's last airworthy C-160D Transall transport aircraft (69-036) of the Turkish Air Force's 12th Air Transport Base Command, used as an ELINT/SIGINT platform, will never fly again.
The aircraft suffered serious damage after crash-landing in Kayseri.#aircraft https://t.co/3NlKNSYuhU pic.twitter.com/wF3TY8gmUN
– FL360aero (@fl360aero) January 25, 2024