ANKARA: Turkiye’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that 20 soldiers were killed after a Turkish military cargo aircraft crashed in eastern Georgia a day earlier. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the country’s deadliest military aviation disaster since 2020.
The C-130 Hercules transport plane had taken off from Ganja, Azerbaijan, en route to Turkiye when it went down in Georgia’s Kakheti region, near the Sighnaghi municipality, on Tuesday. Authorities reported that no distress signal was sent before the aircraft vanished from radar.
According to Reuters, joint Turkish and Georgian teams began inspections at the crash site early Wednesday, around 0330 GMT. Initial footage from the scene showed debris scattered across a grassy hillside, while unverified social media videos appeared to show the aircraft breaking apart in mid-air before spiraling to the ground in flames.
Turkey’s Defence Ministry has released the names of all 20 soldiers killed in the crash. Defence Minister Yasar Güler spoke with his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts, as well as Azerbaijan’s chief of staff, to coordinate search and rescue efforts.
Expressions of condolence have poured in from regional leaders and allies. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze extended their sympathies to Ankara, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack conveyed solidarity with Turkey.
Lockheed Martin, the American manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, also expressed condolences, pledging to assist Turkey in the ongoing investigation.
The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely used by air forces around the world.
Known for its versatility and ability to operate on unprepared runways, it serves in various roles including cargo transport, troop movement, and reconnaissance missions.
