Turkish Military Cargo Plane Crashes in Georgia, Casualties Unclear

ANKARA, Turkey — A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane with at least 20 personnel onboard crashed in Georgian airspace near the Azerbaijan border on Tuesday. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from the city of Ganja, Azerbaijan, with no immediate confirmation on casualties.

Initial videos from the crash site in the Sighnaghi municipality showed wreckage scattered across grassy terrain, including parts of the aircraft engulfed in flames. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan interrupted his speech in Ankara to extend condolences for the “martyrs,” a term used for military personnel who lose their lives in service.

The aircraft, operated by Turkey’s armed forces, was reportedly on its way back to Turkey when it crashed. The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that there were 20 personnel onboard, but did not specify if there were any additional passengers from other nations.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, offered condolences on social media, stating he was “deeply saddened by this tragic crash” and assured that the United States stands in solidarity with Turkey. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences to Erdogan, mentioning the “tragic news of the loss of servicemen” during a phone conversation.

Search and rescue operations began soon after the crash, with Turkish and Georgian officials working together. The Georgian Interior Minister, Gela Geladze, confirmed he reached the crash site around 5 p.m. local time while Prime Minister Ali Yerlikaya noted that operations were ongoing.

Eyewitness accounts indicate the plane spiraled downwards before hitting the ground, as footage showed thick black smoke rising into the sky. The C-130 Hercules is known for its reliability and versatility, often utilized for military logistics.

Both Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities are investigating the crash. The Georgian Interior Ministry has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, focusing on transportation regulations and loss of life. No distress signal was reported prior to the plane losing radar contact soon after entering Georgia’s airspace.

The full extent of the casualties remains unconfirmed, but Turkish officials have alluded to a probable loss of lives among the crew and personnel onboard the aircraft.