What happened
On the afternoon of April 29, 2018, at approximately 12:25 pm, a C-130 aircraft crashed shortly after departing on a mission near the Sharara oil field. The aircraft, which is owned by the Libyan Air Force but was being operated under charter by Akakus Oil, was transporting 18 tonnes of maintenance and catering supplies to the site. The accident occurred roughly 2 km from the oil field during the takeoff phase of flight.
Following the impact, emergency responders, including paramedics and firefighters, arrived at the crash site to provide assistance. The accident resulted in three fatalities among the crew members. One additional crew member sustained injuries and required emergency air evacuation to Tripoli for medical care.
At the time of the flight, Akakus Oil had utilized the chartered aircraft to bypass ground-level security issues and road blockades that had prevented land-based delivery of the supplies to the field.
Findings
An investigation into the specific circumstances surrounding the crash is currently ongoing. No official conclusion regarding the mechanical or operational cause of the accident has been released by the authorities.