Summary: Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that 20 soldiers died when a C‑130 military transport plane crashed in Georgia after departing Azerbaijan, marking the country’s deadliest military incident since 2020.
✈️ The Incident
The Turkish C‑130 Hercules cargo aircraft crashed on Tuesday in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, Kakheti district, shortly after crossing the border from Azerbaijan. The plane had taken off from Ganja airport en route to Turkey but disappeared from radar without transmitting a distress signal.
Initial footage from the scene showed twisted wreckage strewn across a grassy hillside, while unverified videos circulating online appeared to capture the aircraft breaking apart mid‑air before spiralling to the ground in flames The Kathmandu Post RTÉ Ireland Aljazeera.
🚑 Casualties and Response
Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed that all 20 personnel on board, including crew members, were killed. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences, describing the victims as “our heroic comrades‑in‑arms.”
Emergency services from Turkey and Georgia launched search and recovery operations, with inspections at the crash site beginning early Wednesday morning. Both governments are coordinating efforts to secure the area and investigate the cause RTÉ Ireland AOL Aljazeera.
⚖️ Investigation
The cause of the crash remains unclear. Turkish and Georgian authorities have opened a joint investigation, examining possibilities ranging from mechanical failure to structural fatigue or external factors. Aviation experts note that the C‑130 Hercules, widely used by NATO allies, has a strong safety record but is subject to age‑related maintenance challenges The Kathmandu Post RTÉ Ireland The Independent.
🌍 Regional and International Reaction
The leaders of Azerbaijan and Georgia, along with NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, conveyed condolences to Ankara. The incident underscores the risks of military aviation in a region marked by strategic cooperation and heightened geopolitical sensitivities RTÉ Ireland France 24.
The crash of Turkey’s C‑130 Hercules in Georgia killed 20 soldiers, making it the nation’s deadliest military incident since 2020. With investigations underway and condolences pouring in from allies, the tragedy highlights both the human cost of military operations and the fragility of regional security.
Sources: The Kathmandu Post RTÉ Ireland AOL Aljazeera The Independent France 24
