20 soldiers killed as Turkish military aircraft crashes in Georgia

International Desk | PNN

In Sighnaghi, Georgia, a Turkish military cargo plane crashed, killing all 20 soldiers on board. The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, November 12. Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler posted on social media: “Our brave comrades have been martyred. We pay our deepest respects to them.” He also released photos of the deceased soldiers in uniform.

The plane disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Ganja, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday and entering Georgian airspace. It crashed near Sighnaghi Municipality a few hours later, just five kilometers from the Azerbaijan border. Georgian civil aviation authorities reported that the aircraft did not send any distress signals. Videos published by some Azerbaijani media show a large column of black smoke rising immediately after the crash, with debris scattered around.

A joint Turkish-Georgian investigation team began work at the site from Wednesday morning. U.S. company Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, is assisting in determining the cause of the crash. This incident is considered the largest Turkish military disaster since 2020.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the deceased, saying, “We pray for the souls of our martyred soldiers and stand with their families.”

Countries including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Qatar, Iran, Egypt, Italy, and Kazakhstan, as well as various international organizations, have expressed condolences to Turkey. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated: “We are deeply grateful for the sacrifice of Turkish soldiers. Their daily contribution to our security is exceptional.”

The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, widely used by air forces around the world for decades. It is typically used for transporting troops, military equipment, and humanitarian aid.