On July 17, 2023, a Transall C-160R transport plane, operated by the French Air Force, suffered a fuel tank fire at Fort de France-Lamentin Air Base (BA 365), Martinique. Three pilots and five mechanics were evacuated unharmed. The aircraft was stopped immediately after takeoff, and a fire erupted within three minutes. The fire rapidly consumed the left wing, left hand fuselage, and tail section of the airplane. The accident was caused by electrical arcing at the power cable to a submersible fuel pump. This arcing occurred above the kerosene liquid inside the tank full of fuel vapors. The cable type used was chosen at the time of the aircraft?s design and was 19 years old. Atmospheric conditions on the apron of Fort de France elevated the reservoir temperature beyond the flash point of the kerosene, leading to explosive vapors. The arc initiated the blast, resulting in significant damage to the airplane’s structure. The accident was attributed to a combination of factors, including the quality of the cable, its age, and the presence of kerosene in the fuel tank. Specifically, the electrical arc itself was the primary cause, exacerbated by the cable?s degradation due to age and porosity. The cable?s insulation failure, combined with the kerosene?s effect on the cable?s porosity, created an unstable arc. Furthermore, the presence of kerosene itself contributed to the flammable atmosphere, increasing the risk of ignition. The incident occurred while the cable was over 19 years old, a significant age exceeding the manufacturer?s recommended lifespan. The maintenance of this cable type on the C160 series aircraft prior to this accident was a complex process lacking formal traceability, a deficiency that was not addressed until 1969. The replacement of the fuel pump wiring with a newer, more efficient design in 1969 was a crucial preventative measure, potentially mitigating the accident.On July 17, 2023, a Transall C-160R transport plane, operated by the French Air Force, suffered a fuel tank fire at Fort de France-Lamentin Air Base (BA 365), Martinique. Three pilots and five mechanics were evacuated unharmed. The aircraft was stopped immediately after takeoff, and a fire erupted within three minutes. The fire rapidly consumed the left wing, left hand fuselage, and tail section of the airplane. The accident was caused by electrical arcing at the power cable to a submersible fuel pump. This arcing occurred above the kerosene liquid inside the tank full of fuel vapors. The cable type used was chosen at the time of the aircraft?s design and was 19 years old. Atmospheric conditions on the apron of Fort de France elevated the reservoir temperature beyond the flash point of the kerosene, leading to explosive vapors. The arc initiated the blast, resulting in significant damage to the airplane’s structure. The accident was attributed to a combination of factors, including the quality of the cable, its age, and the presence of kerosene in the fuel tank. Specifically, the electrical arc itself was the primary cause, exacerbated by the cable?s degradation due to age and porosity. The cable?s insulation failure, combined with the kerosene?s effect on the cable?s porosity, created an unstable arc. Furthermore, the presence of kerosene itself contributed to the flammable atmosphere, increasing the risk of ignition. The incident occurred while the cable was over 19 years old, a significant age exceeding the manufacturer?s recommended lifespan. The maintenance of this cable type on the C160 series aircraft prior to this accident was a complex process lacking formal traceability, a deficiency that was not addressed until 1969. The replacement of the fuel pump wiring with a newer, more efficient design in 1969 was a crucial preventative measure, potentially mitigating the accident.