A Turkish Air Force C-130 transport aircraft crashed shortly after departing from Azerbaijan while returning to Turkey on Tuesday, with authorities fearing that all onboard have lost their lives.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the plane went down in Georgia’s Sighnaghi region, close to the border with Azerbaijan, and authorities have opened an inquiry into the incident. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff, and initial reports suggest poor weather and limited visibility may have contributed to the disaster.
The minister confirmed that at least 20 individuals were aboard the aircraft when it went down. Rescue teams and emergency services were immediately dispatched, but officials described challenging conditions hampering access to the crash site due to the steep terrain and ongoing bad weather.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later confirmed the tragedy, stating that the aircraft had departed from Azerbaijan and was en route to Turkey. Expressing his deep sorrow, Erdoğan referred to those on board as “martyrs” and offered his condolences to their families.
Authorities from both Turkey and Georgia have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Early assessments indicate that technical failure or weather conditions could be factors, but no official conclusion has been reached.
This incident marks one of the most serious military aviation disasters in recent years involving a Turkish aircraft, drawing condolences from several neighboring countries and international organizations.
