Turkey Military Cargo Plane Crashes Near Azerbaijan-Georgia Border, All 20 Onboard Killed

A Turkish military C-130 cargo aircraft crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, killing all 20 personnel aboard, Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed. The Lockheed C-130 plane took off from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan and was en route back to Turkey when it experienced an in-flight breakup before crashing in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, close to the Azerbaijani border.

The plane lost radar contact shortly after entering Georgian airspace and did not issue any distress signals prior to the crash. Witness footage showed the aircraft breaking apart mid-air, spiraling down and leaking fuel before impact. The debris was scattered across a large area of farmland surrounded by hills, complicating the recovery efforts.

In response, Turkish authorities dispatched an investigation team to the crash site, working alongside Georgian investigators to determine the cause of the accident. Searches and rescue operations were coordinated with Georgian and Azerbaijani officials immediately following the incident. Despite efforts, no survivors were found.

Defense Minister Yasar Guler paid tribute to the fallen servicemen, calling them “heroic comrades-in-arms” who made the ultimate sacrifice. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences and solidarity with Turkey over the loss of its troops.

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The Turkish C-130 cargo aircraft model is widely used for transporting military personnel and logistical support, and the countries involved maintain close military cooperation. The crash underscores risks involved in regional military operations and the ongoing strategic alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus.

Investigation efforts are ongoing under applicable aviation safety regulations to uncover the exact reasons behind the catastrophic failure mid-flight. Both Turkey and Georgia remain committed to transparency as the probe continues.

This tragic event has drawn attention to the high-profile military exchanges and cooperation seen between Turkey and Azerbaijan, which include joint exercises and extensive cargo flights supporting security operations in the region