Wednesday, 12 November, 2025
A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane carrying at least 20 personnel crashed in Georgia on Tuesday shortly after taking off from Azerbaijan. The number of casualties and the cause of the crash remain unclear.
Video from the scene near the Azerbaijan border showed twisted metal scattered across a grassy knoll, with parts of the fuselage still ablaze and thick black smoke rising into a clear sky. Fire engines were on site, while a helicopter hovered overhead.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft corkscrewing towards the ground before bursting into flames. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan interrupted a speech in Ankara to express condolences for "our martyrs"—a term he commonly uses for service personnel killed both in combat and during official duties.
Neither Erdogan’s office nor the Defence Ministry provided details on the cause of the crash or a death toll. Local media reports indicated that both Turkish and Azeri personnel were on board the US-made aircraft, though no numbers were confirmed.
Loss of Servicemen
Following a call with Erdogan, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said, according to an official statement, that they had discussed "the tragic news of the loss of servicemen" in the crash.
Turkey’s Defence Ministry confirmed that 20 Turkish personnel, including the flight crew, were on board but gave no information about possible passengers of other nationalities.
Authorities from Turkey and Georgia said they were working to reach the crash site in Sighnaghi municipality in Kakheti, a border region characterised by floodplain forests and rolling hills.
In Ankara, Erdogan was handed a note by aides as he concluded his speech. He said: "God willing, we will overcome this crash with minimum hardships. May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them in our prayers."
Georgia’s Interpress news agency cited the country’s Interior Ministry as saying the incident is being investigated under a criminal code article covering air transport and loss of life.
Azerbaijan, a close ally of NATO member Turkey, confirmed the plane had departed from the city of Ganja.
Lockheed Martin’s Cargo, Troop and Equipment Carrier
US defence firm Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, expressed condolences to those affected by the crash and to Turkey’s Air Force and citizens.
"We are committed to supporting our customer in any way as they investigate," said company spokesperson Chris Karns.
The C-130 Hercules is a versatile four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely used for cargo, troop, and equipment transport. It is capable of operating from unprepared runways and has also been adapted for roles including gunship missions, airborne assault, and reconnaissance. The aircraft remains one of the primary tactical airlifters for many air forces worldwide.
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A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane carrying at least 20 personnel crashed in Georgia on Tuesday shortly after taking off from Azerbaijan. The number of casualties and the cause of the crash remain unclear.
Video from the scene near the Azerbaijan border showed twisted metal scattered across a grassy knoll, with parts of the fuselage still ablaze and thick black smoke rising into a clear sky. Fire engines were on site, while a helicopter hovered overhead.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft corkscrewing towards the ground before bursting into flames. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan interrupted a speech in Ankara to express condolences for "our martyrs"—a term he commonly uses for service personnel killed both in combat and during official duties.
Neither Erdogan’s office nor the Defence Ministry provided details on the cause of the crash or a death toll. Local media reports indicated that both Turkish and Azeri personnel were on board the US-made aircraft, though no numbers were confirmed.
Loss of Servicemen
Following a call with Erdogan, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said, according to an official statement, that they had discussed "the tragic news of the loss of servicemen" in the crash.
Turkey’s Defence Ministry confirmed that 20 Turkish personnel, including the flight crew, were on board but gave no information about possible passengers of other nationalities.
Authorities from Turkey and Georgia said they were working to reach the crash site in Sighnaghi municipality in Kakheti, a border region characterised by floodplain forests and rolling hills.
In Ankara, Erdogan was handed a note by aides as he concluded his speech. He said: "God willing, we will overcome this crash with minimum hardships. May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them in our prayers."
Georgia’s Interpress news agency cited the country’s Interior Ministry as saying the incident is being investigated under a criminal code article covering air transport and loss of life.
Azerbaijan, a close ally of NATO member Turkey, confirmed the plane had departed from the city of Ganja.
Lockheed Martin’s Cargo, Troop and Equipment Carrier
US defence firm Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, expressed condolences to those affected by the crash and to Turkey’s Air Force and citizens.
"We are committed to supporting our customer in any way as they investigate," said company spokesperson Chris Karns.
The C-130 Hercules is a versatile four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely used for cargo, troop, and equipment transport. It is capable of operating from unprepared runways and has also been adapted for roles including gunship missions, airborne assault, and reconnaissance. The aircraft remains one of the primary tactical airlifters for many air forces worldwide.
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