12/11/2025
🇹🇷 Turkish Military Plane Crash Kills 20 Near Georgia-Azerbaijan Border
ANKARA/TBILISI—All 20 military personnel aboard a Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo plane were killed when the aircraft crashed in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the Turkish government confirmed.
The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130, was on its return flight to Turkey, having taken off from Azerbaijan, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials had recently attended a celebration.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense initially confirmed the crash via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), reporting the loss of the military transport plane and confirming 20 personnel, including the flight crew, were on board. The Defense Minister, Yaşar Güler, later officially announced the deaths of all personnel, referring to them as "heroic comrades-in-arms" who were martyred.
Crash Details and Investigation
The crash occurred in the Sighnaghi municipality of Georgia's Kakheti region, approximately five kilometers from the Azerbaijani border. Georgian authorities, including the Interior Ministry, confirmed the location and immediately launched a search and rescue operation in coordination with Turkish and Azerbaijani officials.
• Aircraft: Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane.
• Occupants: 20 military personnel, all killed.
• Route: En route from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
• Location: Sighnaghi municipality, Georgia, near the border with Azerbaijan.
Georgian air traffic control reported losing contact with the plane shortly after it entered Georgian airspace. According to local media, video footage circulated reportedly showed the aircraft spiraling and leaving a trail of white smoke before impact.
A Turkish accident investigation team was dispatched to the crash site early Wednesday to determine the cause of the accident, which remains unknown.
Regional Condolences
The tragedy drew immediate expressions of grief and solidarity from Turkey's regional partners.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his deep sadness and offered condolences to the families of the deceased, calling them "martyrs."
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev conveyed his "heartfelt condolences" to the Turkish leader and the "fraternal people of Türkiye," expressing profound sorrow over the loss of servicemen.
