ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler mentioned on Monday it could take not less than two months to succeed in preliminary findings and analyse the black field of a Turkish cargo aircraft that crashed in Georgia final week and left 20 troopers lifeless.
The C-130 cargo plane had left Azerbaijan for Turkey and crashed in Georgia, marking the NATO member’s highest army loss of life toll since 2020. Ankara has mentioned it was investigating the reason for the crash.
Talking to reporters after a cupboard assembly in Ankara, Guler mentioned the black field of the plane was being inspected by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), including that regardless of the crash, the C-130 planes – which Turkey has been working since 1957 – have been “usually secure”.
“In line with preliminary findings, though not definitive, the tail breaks off first. It then splits into three. This can be discovered within the (inspection of the) black field,” he mentioned, and added that, other than an engine fireplace in 1999 after which the plane had landed safely, there had been no points with the C-130s.
Turkey’s defence ministry mentioned final week the plane was carrying a 10-person upkeep group for Turkish F-16s that had earlier taken half in Victory Day celebrations in Azerbaijan, in addition to the flight crew and upkeep gear.
Turkey’s defence ministry introduced final month an settlement with Britain to acquire 12 C-130 aircraftthat have to bear modernisation and upkeep.
It additionally mentioned final week that the crashed aircraft was purchased from Saudi Arabia in 2012, began flights in 2022, and accomplished its final upkeep a month in the past, including all deliberate flights by Turkey’s 18 C-130s have been suspended pending inspection.
(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Enhancing by Toby Chopra)