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Aircraft Destroyed After Emergency Landing in Swampy Area (63-7775)

Lai Khê, VietnamFlight

On April 18, 1972, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 63-7775) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Lai Khê, Vietnam in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Emergency landing after being shot down by enemy fire. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was hit by enemy fire during a low-level supply mission. The crew attempted an emergency landing after the right wing caught fire, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. All five occupants were rescued.

Incident Overview and Mission Context The aircraft departed Saigon on a supply dropping mission to An Loc. During the operation, the airplane was flying at low height and high speed when it was struck by enemy fire. ## Emergency Response and Crash Following the impact, the crew elected to return to Saigon. A few minutes later, the right wing caught fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing, but the airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area. ## Outcome All five occupants were rescued from the wreckage. The aircraft was destroyed in the incident. ## Official Findings The official investigation identified the probable cause as an emergency landing after the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire.

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