Turkey’s defense ministry has confirmed that 20 Turkish soldiers died after a military cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Azerbaijan near the Georgia border.
The C-130 Hercules aircraft, carrying 20 personnel, went down on Tuesday, November 11, near the Azerbaijan–Georgia border.
Footage shared by Turkish media showed the plane spiraling out of control and trailing white smoke.
Georgian authorities searched the crash site in Sighnaghi municipality on Tuesday night, and an investigation has been launched.
Georgia’s aviation authority reported that contact with the aircraft was lost minutes after it entered Georgian airspace, and no distress signal had been sent.
“Our heroic comrades-in-arms were martyred,” Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler wrote on X, sharing condolences for the victims.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed deep sorrow, pledging to manage the aftermath with minimal disruption.
The C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop widely used by Turkey’s armed forces, was returning to Turkey at the time of the crash.
The aircraft is designed to transport troops, cargo, and equipment and can operate from unprepared runways.
Its versatile design also allows it to serve as a gunship, for airborne assault, and for reconnaissance missions, making it a key tactical airlifter for many militaries.
Lockheed Martin, the United States (U.S) manufacturer of the aircraft, extended condolences and pledged support to Turkey during the ongoing investigation.
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