Brazilian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft crashes in Chile’s Antarctic base

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – During a critical landing at Chile’s Presidente Eduardo Frei Antarctic base, the C-130 Hercules FAB-2470, part of the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) 1°/1° GT, was severely damaged when it veered off the runway and hit the side terrain, causing the main landing gear and right wingtip to collapse.

This is the first serious accident involving a C-130 aircraft in Antarctica in more than two decades; however, there were no injuries.

Given the extent of the damage to the structure and the need for complex equipment to repair it, which is not available at the Eduardo Frei base, the C-130 FAB-2470 must end its career in transport aviation as its recovery becomes uneconomical.

Images taken at the crash site show FAB mechanics removing the engines, propellers, and other components from the crashed aircraft for later use in other aircraft of the same model.

The aircraft was flying on behalf of the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR).

According to the head of the Center for Social Communication in Aviation, the Brazilian Air Force will investigate the factors that contributed to the accident, according to the head of the Center for Social Communication in Aviation, Brigadier General Pedro Luís Farcic.

Starting in 2017 or 2018, the C-130 Hercules in the FAB will be replaced by Embraer KC-390s, whose first flight is expected in the coming days.

With information from infodefensa

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