All 20 people on board the Turkish military transport aircraft type C-130which crashed in Georgia, government sources told the Turkey.
While the Turkish President was wrapping up a speech in Ankara, he received a note from his aides informing him of the incident. Erdogan broke off his speech and expressed hope that the casualties from the plane crash would be as few as possible and offered his condolences to “our martyrs” on board the plane. The term “martyrs” is regularly used to describe not only combat deaths but also service personnel killed in the line of duty.
Erdogan, his office and the ministry did not say what caused the crash or provide a death toll.
In a telephone conversation with Erdogan, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev also expressed his condolences.
Turkey’s defense ministry says a Turkish military cargo plane crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border on Tuesday.
The ministry said on X that the C-130 plane had taken off from Azerbaijan and was on its way back to Turkey.
It was not clear how many crew were on board the… pic.twitter.com/vv9Wni7rvl
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) November 11, 2025
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at an urbanisation summit and urbicide exhibition event:
“Today, we have learned with deep sorrow that our C-130 military aircraft, originating from Azerbaijan and en route to our country, has tragically crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan… pic.twitter.com/yQwPOHcrPS
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) November 11, 2025
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of soldiers in the downing of a military transport aircraft of the Turkish Air Force, which took off from Ganja and crashed on Georgian soil,” the statement said. Aliyev.


“In this moment of sorrow, I share your pain and, on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I express my deepest condolences to you, to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the brotherly people of Turkey,” he added.
A Turkish Air Force C-130 (reg. 68-01609) military transport aircraft crashed after a mid-air disintegration in Georgia, after taking-off from Azerbaijan earlier today.
Turkish Ministry of National Defense: “Our C-130 military transport aircraft, which took off from Azerbaijan… pic.twitter.com/bm9KUG09L2
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) November 11, 2025
It is recalled that the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a Turkish military transport aircraft crashed on Tuesday (11.11.2025) near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border.
Local media reported that there were Turks and Azeris on board the American-made aircraft, but gave no casualty accounts.
BREAKING: Turkish military cargo plane C-130 crashes on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. More details awaited pic.twitter.com/qGdCwbbDSD
— THE UNKNOWN MAN (@Theunk13) November 11, 2025
According to the ministry’s announcement on the X platform (formerly Twitter), the C-130 had taken off from Azerbaijan and was heading back to Turkey.
Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules medium transport plane operated by the Turkish Air Force has crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border on Tuesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry informed.
The plane was returning from Azerbaijan to Turkey, according to the Turkish side. pic.twitter.com/Fpqsg63J38
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 11, 2025
As reported by Reuters, the Turkish Defense Ministry said the aircraft was carrying 20 Turkish military personnel, including the flight crew.
The Turkish Minister of the Interior, Ali Gerlikaya stated in his post that he spoke with his Georgian counterpart, Gela Gelandzewho was en route to the crash site.


The Georgian Ministry of Interior announced that the crash occurred in eastern Georgia’s Signakhi region, about five kilometers from the border with Azerbaijan.
“An investigation has been launched,” the ministry added in a statement, promising to provide “detailed information on the incident” later.
Last moments of Turkish Air Force C-130 that crashed over Georgia shortly after taking off from Ganja, Azerbaijan#TUAF543 pic.twitter.com/iBjKvOQrdV
— Hamid (@khalfaguliyev) November 11, 2025
It is noted that, the C-130 Hercules is a military transport aircraft with four turbo-engines, designed and built by Lockheed Martin.
The Turkish Air Force has been using the aircraft, which can carry 74 fully equipped soldiers, since 1963.