A Turkish Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft carrying 20 personnel crashed in Georgia’s Sighnaghi region, near the Azerbaijan border, on Tuesday evening. The aircraft was returning to Turkey after a routine mission in Azerbaijan when it went down under unclear circumstances, triggering a massive explosion and thick plumes of smoke visible from nearby villages.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was informed of the tragedy mid-speech in Ankara, expressed grief over the “martyrdom” of the personnel aboard. “May God rest the souls of our martyrs. We stand with their families in prayer and resolve,” he said.
The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed the crash and stated that it is coordinating with Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities for search and rescue operations. Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri has reportedly rushed to the crash site, accompanied by emergency and defence personnel.
A viral video circulating on Turkish news channels showed the aircraft spiralling out of control, trailing white smoke before crashing into a mountainside and bursting into flames. Local media reports suggest the plane may have been carrying both Turkish and Azerbaijani military personnel, although official confirmation is awaited.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest a possible mechanical failure, but foul play has not been ruled out.
The C-130 Hercules aircraft is widely used by the Turkish Armed Forces for logistics, troop transport, and humanitarian missions. The crash underscores growing safety concerns amid Turkey’s expanding regional military cooperation, particularly with Azerbaijan.
Search teams are continuing to comb the mountainous crash site for survivors as both nations brace for an official casualty update.
