German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe

Safety profile and incident history for German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe.

Safety Score

9.5/10

Total Incidents

113

Total Fatalities

518

Recent Incidents

Transall C-160

Wunstorf AFB Lower Saxony

The crew was performing a training flight in the region of Hanover. While flying at low altitude in the area of Frielendorf, passing from IFR to VFR mode, the aircraft collided with trees. The crew diverted to Wunstorf AFB where he landed safely. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to serious damages to tail and stabilizers.

September 13, 1997 24 Fatalities

Tupolev TU-154

Atlantic Ocean All World

Some 65 nautical miles west off the Namibian coast, a US Air Force Lockheed C-141B Starlifter collided with a German Air Force Tupolev 154M in mid-air. Both aircraft crashed, killing all 33 occupants. The Tupolev 154M (11+02), call sign GAF074, operated on a flight from Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany to Kaapstad, South Africa. En route refueling stops were planned at Niamey, Niger and Windhoek, Namibia. On board were ten crew members and 14 passengers. The C-141B, (65-9405), call sign REACH 4201, had delivered UN humanitarian supplies to Windhoek and was returning to the U.S. via Georgetown on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. On board were nine crew members. GAF074 departed Niamey, Niger at 10:35 UTC. REACH 4201 took off from Windhoek at 14:11 UTC and climbed to its filed for and assigned cruise level of 35,000 feet (FL350). At the same time, GAF074 was not at its filed for cruise level of FL390 but was still at its initially assigned cruise level FL350. Windhoek ATC was in sole and continuous radio contact with REACH 4201, with no knowledge of GAF 074's movement. Luanda ATC was in radio contact with GAF074, but they were not in radio contact with REACH 4201. Luanda ATC did receive flight plans for both aircraft but a departure message for only REACH 4201. At 15:10 UTC both aircraft collided at FL350 and crashed into the sea.

October 22, 1995 7 Fatalities

Transall C-160

Ponta Delgada Azores Islands

After takeoff from Ponta Delgada-Nordela Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines, stalled and crashed in the sea few dozen metres offshore. All seven crew members were killed.

July 10, 1992 2 Fatalities

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

Büchel AFB Rhineland-Palatinate

The crew was completing a local training flight at Büchel AFB. During a single engine approach, the crew initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft stalled and crashed one km short of runway 03/21 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. Crew: OLt Johannes Asanger, Maj Eckhard Südmeyer.

Antonov AN-26

Friedrichshafen-Bodensee Baden-Württemberg

Damaged beyond repair following a very hard landing at Friedrichshafen-Bodensee Airport. There were no injuries.

May 11, 1990 10 Fatalities

Transall C-160

Lohr am Main Bavaria

The aircraft was completing a flight from Wunstorf AFB to Kaufbeuren AFB, carrying five technicians and five crew members. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in the Spessart Mountain Range near Lohr am Main. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

July 2, 1988 6 Fatalities

Transall C-160

Bordeaux-Mérignac Gironde

On approach to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport following an uneventful flight from Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, struck power cables and crashed in a wooded area located in Eysines, few km short of runway 23 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

May 22, 1980 2 Fatalities

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

Fürstenfeldbruck AFB Bavaria

Crashed at Fürstenfeldbruck AFB while completing a local training flight. Both crew members were killed.

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

Kaufbeuren AFB Bavaria

At least was crew was injured when the airplane crashed under unknown circumstances at Kaufbeuren AFB.

November 22, 1976 5 Fatalities

MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet

Schwabmünchen Bavaria

While cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet on a training mission, the Hansa Jet was hit behind by a German Luftwaffe Fiat G.91T-3 fighter registered 34+49 and carrying a crew of two. The Fiat struck the Hansa Jet in a slight left turn at a speed of 145 knots. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Schwabmünchen. All five occupants on board the Hansa Jet were killed while both pilots on board the Fiat ejected safely. At the time of the collision, it was determined that the crew of the Fiat was just leaving a Temporary Reserved Airspace and was descending to FL100 to a VFR airspace. At this time, the Fiat's transponder was on a 'stand by' mode.

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