Turkish Military Plane Crashes in Georgia, Leaving No Survivors
A Turkish military aircraft crashed Wednesday, Nov. 12, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board.
The C-130 Hercules, carrying crew and additional military personnel, went down in Georgia shortly after departing from Azerbaijan.
Footage shared by local outlet Turkey Tribune shows the aircraft spiraling through the air with visible smoke before crashing and erupting into dark clouds. According to Reuters, the tragedy marks Turkey’s deadliest military incident since 2020, when 33 Turkish troops were killed in northwest Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to “our martyrs,” per BBC, while Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also extended his sympathies to the Turkish leader for the soldiers who lost their lives, according to comments shared on X.
The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, shared his sadness on X, calling the incident “tragic” and expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the people of Türkiye. He emphasized that the United States stands in solidarity with its Turkish allies.
As reported by the BBC, the defence ministry said the cargo aircraft had been traveling from Azerbaijan to Turkey when it crashed.
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Images from the aftermath show twisted wreckage scattered across the ground, with emergency vehicles — including ambulances, firetrucks, and military transports — surrounding the burned fuselage as search-and-rescue crews examined the area.
Reuters adds that Turkish and Georgian authorities have begun investigations at the site, located in Georgia’s Kakheti district.
The C-130 Hercules is a widely used four-engine turboprop transport plane capable of operating from unprepared runways. Its flexible design allows it to move troops, cargo, and equipment, making it a key tactical aircraft for militaries worldwide.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has not yet issued an updated statement regarding the incident.
