Turkish Cargo Plane Crash Kills 20 Near Georgia-Azerbaijan Border
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
A Turkish Air Force C-130 military cargo plane crashed on November 11 in Georgia's Sighnaghi municipality, killing all personnel on board. The aircraft went down near the border with Azerbaijan while flying from Ganja International Airport to Erkilet International Airport in Kayseri, Turkey.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that 20 Turkish military personnel, including crew members, were aboard the C-130 Hercules. Multiple international reports, including a confirmation on the aircraft's details, state that there were 20 fatalities and no survivors.
Video footage of the incident showed the aircraft spiraling and emitting a trail of white smoke before it broke up in mid-air and impacted the ground.
The incident prompted a rapid, multi-country coordinated effort, with Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Georgian authorities involved in the search and investigation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, "May God have mercy on our martyrs," and confirming that efforts to reach the wreckage were continuing in coordination with national authorities. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also confirmed "closely monitoring the search and rescue operations with Georgian authorities."
Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, Geka Geladze, visited the crash site, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili offered condolences, stating, "My thoughts are with the families of the deceased crew members. We express our solidarity with Türkiye in this time of grief." Azerbaijan also extended condolences, emphasizing its solidarity with Türkiye.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation under the Criminal Code section that covers the "violation of air transport safety or operation rules resulting in loss of life." The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, though aviation experts note that video evidence suggests an in-flight breakup.
