A Turkish military cargo plane has crashed in Georgia while returning home from Azerbaijan, the Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. The aircraft involved was a C-130 Hercules, a large military transport plane commonly used for carrying personnel and equipment.
The crash took place near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border, in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, roughly five kilometers from Azerbaijan. According to Georgian officials, the area where the plane went down is mountainous, which is making rescue efforts difficult.
In a statement, the Turkish Defence Ministry said it was working closely with Georgian authorities to reach the crash site. Search and rescue operations are underway, with teams from both countries coordinating efforts to locate survivors and recover the wreckage.
Videos circulating on social media show the aircraft appearing to lose control midair before plunging down, followed by thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. Flight tracking data indicated that the plane had departed from Ganja, a city in Azerbaijan, but lost signal soon after entering Georgian airspace.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that there were casualties in the crash, though he did not specify how many people were on board or how many lost their lives. Speaking after receiving the news during a public event in Ankara, Erdoğan said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy and offered prayers for the fallen, referring to them as “martyrs.” He added that Turkey would do everything possible to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said he had spoken with his Georgian counterpart, who was on the way to the crash site. Both countries are now cooperating on the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The C-130 Hercules aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, is a key part of Turkey’s air fleet and is used for transporting military supplies, vehicles, and personnel. It can carry up to 42,000 pounds of cargo and is known for its ability to operate in rough and remote terrains.
Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the crash, and both Ankara and Tbilisi have launched a joint investigation. Local media in the region have reported that Turkish and Azerbaijani personnel were on board the aircraft, but no official passenger list or death toll has been released so far.
As rescue operations continue, the tragedy has drawn widespread attention and sympathy across Turkey and neighboring countries, with leaders expressing condolences and support for the victims’ families.