All 20 aboard Turkish C-130 transport plane that crashed in Georgia dead

All 20 people on board the Turkish military transport aircraft type C-130which crashed in Georgia, government sources told the Turkey.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “deeply saddened” and offered his condolences to those killed in the crash of the Turkish C-130 transporter..

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.

“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.

Rescue crews in the area where the Turkish C-130 crashed in GeorgiaRescue crews in the area where the Turkish C-130 crashed in Georgia
Rescue crews in the area where the Turkish C-130 crashed in Georgia / TV.IMEDI / Handout via REUTERS

“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.

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.

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.

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.

Part of the fuselage wreckage of the Turkish C-130 that crashed in GeorgiaPart of the fuselage wreckage of the Turkish C-130 that crashed in Georgia
Part of the wreckage of the fuselage of the Turkish C-130 that crashed in Georgia / TV.IMEDI / Handout via REUTERS

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.

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.

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