Turkish Military Cargo Plane Crashes in Georgia, Casualties Feared
A Turkish military C-130 cargo plane carrying 20 personnel crashed today in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, near the border with Azerbaijan, with authorities fearing casualties.
The aircraft, which departed from Azerbaijan and was en route back to Turkey, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after entering Georgian airspace, according to the Georgian aviation authority. There was no distress call issued prior to the crash. Turkish officials have deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle to assist in search and rescue efforts, and an accident investigation team is preparing to travel to Georgia. Turkey and Azerbaijan share close military ties, and this incident could impact regional cooperation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his “deep sadness” over the crash, offering condolences for the “martyrs.” “God willing we will overcome this accident with the least amount of setbacks possible,” Erdogan said. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also conveyed his condolences, stating he was “deeply shocked by the news of the loss of life of our soldiers.” The C-130 is a workhorse of the Turkish armed forces, frequently used for logistical operations – you can learn more about the C-130 Hercules on Lockheed Martin’s website.
Georgian authorities reached the crash site around 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) and a search and rescue operation is ongoing. Further investigation will be needed to determine the cause of the crash, as detailed by the Reuters report.
Officials stated that they will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
