Turkish Military Plane Crashes in Georgia, At Least 20 On Board

A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane carrying at least 20 personnel crashed in Georgia on Tuesday after taking off from Azerbaijan. Footage from the scene near the Azerbaijan border showed debris scattered across a grassy hillside, with parts of the aircraft still burning. The cause of the crash and the exact number of casualties have not yet been confirmed.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences for “our martyrs” during a speech in Ankara, while Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also expressed sorrow over the loss of servicemen. The plane reportedly included both Turkish and Azeri personnel, though Turkey’s Defence Ministry only confirmed 20 Turkish personnel on board. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Sighnaghi municipality, Kakheti, near the crash site.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, expressed condolences and pledged support to Turkey’s Air Force during the investigation. The versatile aircraft, widely used for cargo, troop transport, and various military operations, is considered a mainstay tactical airlifter for many armed forces worldwide.

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