Turkish military cargo plane crashes in Georgia, 20 feared dead

ANKARA: A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane with at least 20 personnel on board crashed in eastern Georgia on Tuesday after taking off from Azerbaijan, authorities confirmed.

Rescue teams from Turkey and Georgia are en route to the site, officials said.

President Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in Ankara, interrupted a speech to offer condolences for “our martyrs,” a term used for service personnel killed in the line of duty.

He said: “God willing, we will overcome this crash with minimum hardships. May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them through our prayers.”

Details on casualties unclear

Neither Erdogan’s office nor the Defence Ministry provided details on the cause of the crash or the number of casualties. Local media reports suggested the plane carried both Turkish and Azerbaijani personnel, though official confirmation is pending.

Leaders coordinate response

Following the crash, Erdogan spoke to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, discussing “the tragic news of the loss of servicemen” near Georgia’s border with Azerbaijan, according to an official readout.

The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed that 20 Turkish personnel, including the flight crew, were on board. Efforts to reach the crash site are ongoing, the ministry said.

Crash location and investigation

Georgia’s Interpress news agency reported that the plane crashed in Sighnaghi, a municipality in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. Authorities said an investigation into the incident is underway.

About the C-130 Hercules

The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely used for carrying troops, cargo, and equipment. Known for its versatility, it can operate from unprepared runways and has also been adapted for reconnaissance, airborne assault, and gunship roles.

U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130, did not immediately comment on the incident.