Turkish cargo plane with 20 on board crashes in Georgia
Turkish cargo plane with 20 on board crashes in Georgia
Turkish military C-130 with 20 on board crashes in Georgia near the Azerbaijani border while returning from Azerbaijan; rescue teams mobilize as authorities investigate.
A Turkish military cargo plane with 20 people on board crashed in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan on Tuesday. The C-130 had taken off from Azerbaijan and was on its way back to Turkiye when it went down, according to Turkiye's Defence Ministry. Video footage aired on Turkish outlets appeared to show the aircraft spiralling down and leaving a trail of white smoke. A search and rescue operation has been launched in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities. The Georgian Interior Ministry said the aircraft crashed in Sighnaghi municipality, near the Azerbaijani border, and that an investigation has been opened. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was deeply saddened by the crash and offered condolences for the martyrs, expressing hope that the nation would overcome the accident with the least amount of setbacks possible. The 20 personnel on board included crew members, and Turkiye's armed forces routinely use C-130s for transporting personnel and handling logistical tasks. The incident highlights the close military cooperation between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia as rescue teams continue to search the wreckage and assess casualties.
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