Turkish military plane crashes in Georgia

A Turkish C-130 military transport plane carrying 20 personnel crashed in eastern Georgia near the Azerbaijani border after taking off from Ganja, Turkish authorities said. Initial footage and witness accounts showed the aircraft spiralling toward the ground and erupting in flames; wreckage and burning fuselage were later reported scattered across a stretch of grassy terrain. Turkish and Georgian officials confirmed search-and-rescue teams reached the site and recovery operations were underway, with ministers and senior officials from both countries traveling to the scene.

Turkey’s president paused a speech to offer condolences for the servicemen and described the loss as a national tragedy; Azerbaijan’s president and other regional leaders also expressed sympathy. Turkey’s defence ministry said 20 Turkish personnel, including flight crew, were on board but gave no immediate breakdown of nationalities beyond Turkish reports. Georgian authorities opened a criminal probe under provisions covering air transport and loss of life, while investigators from the involved countries began examining the site and available data.

The aircraft was identified as a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop used globally for cargo, troop and equipment transport and capable of operating from unprepared runways. Lockheed Martin expressed condolences and offered support for the investigation. Officials and analysts noted the model’s long service history, and preliminary commentary mentioned possible technical malfunction or structural failure as lines of inquiry, though no official cause has been announced.

Emergency responders described severe impact and post-crash fire damage across a wide debris field that initially hampered identification and recovery efforts. Georgian, Turkish and Azerbaijani teams coordinated on-site operations; diplomatic contacts were made to manage the response and inquiry. NATO and other international actors conveyed solidarity with Turkey.

Authorities cautioned that determining the crash’s cause will take time as investigators review flight and radar data, maintenance records and witness statements. Meanwhile, the crash has prompted national mourning and heightened scrutiny of military flight safety procedures in the region.