Tragic Plane Crash in Georgia

On Wednesday, Turkey’s defense minister confirmed that all 20 individuals on board a military cargo plane that crashed in Georgia have lost their lives.

The C-130 aircraft was returning to Turkey after departing from Azerbaijan when it came down in the city of Sighnaghi, near the Azerbaijani border on Tuesday.

Defense Minister Yasar Güler shared a message on X, stating, “On November 11, 2025, our heroic comrades were martyred when a C-130 military cargo plane took off from Azerbaijan on its way to our country, and it was martyred.” He included photos of the deceased soldiers.

The incident is currently under investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Reportedly, Turkish investigative teams arrived at the scene early Wednesday and began examining the extensive wreckage.

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Georgian aviation authorities lost contact with the plane shortly after it entered Georgian airspace. Notably, it did not issue a distress signal.

The C-130 is a critical asset for the Turkish military, utilized for various logistical operations and personnel transport.

Turkey and Azerbaijan share a strong military partnership, highlighted by recent events. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials attended Azerbaijan’s Victory Day ceremonies in Baku on November 8, celebrating their military achievements in the ongoing conflict over the Karabakh region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, which spans nearly four decades.

In the wake of the crash, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili extended their condolences. Aliyev expressed his deep shock over the tragic incident in a message, as reported by Anadolu Agency.