What happened
On the evening of the incident, the crew of ZH867 was performing a standard troop transport mission to a Tactical Landing Zone (TLZ) located in the Maysān province of Iraq. Meteorological conditions at the destination were favorable, characterized by light winds, clear skies, and a visibility of 25 km. After establishing communication with the Tactical Air Traffic Controller, the Lockheed Hercules was cleared for its approach.
During the landing sequence at approximately 17:10:15 UTC, the flight crew experienced a sudden, loud bang accompanied by a bright flash that momentarily blinded those in the cockpit. As the aircraft made contact with the runway, a second, more intense flash and a louder explosion occurred. These events caused the aircraft to veer off the left side of the runway.
Upon regaining visibility, the captain attempted to steer the aircraft back onto the runway centerline, but the crew identified a fire spreading along the port side of the wing. The captain executed an emergency stop, bringing the aircraft to a halt roughly 700 meters from the touchdown point and 50 meters from the runway edge. Due to the extensive structural damage and the security risk of sensitive equipment being compromised by local forces, the decision was made to destroy the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the port wing area.
- The presence of a bright flash and loud bang immediately prior to touchdown suggests an external or internal explosion.
- The airframe was ultimately destroyed to prevent the capture of specialized technology by anti-Iraqi forces.