No fatalities

1976-12-04: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (CNA-OB) — Royal Moroccan Air Force - Forces Royales Air — Laâyoune, Western Sahara

Laâyoune, Western SaharaTakeoff (climb)

On December 4, 1976, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration CNA-OB) operated by Royal Moroccan Air Force - Forces Royales Air was involved in an aviation accident near Laâyoune, Western Sahara during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft may have been downed by ground fire from insurgent groups during its initial climb. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781228620Data APIEditorial standards

An unidentified aircraft crashed following takeoff from Laayoune Airport, with reports suggesting the plane may have been targeted by insurgent forces.

What happened

Following its departure from Laayoune Airport, an aircraft lost control and impacted the ground. While the specific details regarding the flight path are limited, the incident occurred shortly after the takeoff phase of the flight.

There is currently no confirmed information regarding the fate of the occupant, as their status remains unverified following the impact. Reports from the region suggest that the aircraft may have been struck by fire from members of the Polisario Front during its flight.

Findings

Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft was shot down by rebel forces, though this remains an unconfirmed factor in the crash sequence.

Probable cause

The aircraft may have been downed by ground fire from insurgent groups during its initial climb.