Türkiye mourns 20 soldiers killed in military plane crash in Georgia

ANKARA

Condolence messages from across Türkiye and several other countries poured in on Nov. 12, for the 20 soldiers killed in a Turkish military cargo plane crash at the Georgia–Azerbaijan border, as investigations into the cause of the incident continue.

All 20 personnel on board a Turkish military cargo plane that crashed in Georgia were killed, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced on Nov. 12.

The C-130 plane was flying from Ganja, Azerbaijan to Türkiye when it crashed in Georgia’s Sighnaghi Municipality, close to the Azerbaijani border, on Nov. 11. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

A Turkish accident investigation team reached the crash site and was inspecting the wreckage of the plane, in coordination with Georgian authorities.

Georgian Interior Minister Gela Geladze said authorities have so far recovered the remains of 18 of the victims and efforts were continuing to locate the other two.

Later, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the teams located another body. 

The wreckage was spread across a plain that includes farmland and is surrounded by hills. Debris from the aircraft was scattered across multiple locations.

Media reports, citing footage from the scene and images of the debris field, suggest the plane may have broken apart before impact, followed by an explosion after hitting the ground.

Debris collected from the area will be transferred to a military base in the Turkish central province of Kayseri for further analysis.

“Our heroic comrades-in-arms were martyred on Nov. 11, 2025, when our C-130 military cargo plane, which had taken off from Azerbaijan en route to our country, crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border,” Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said in a message posted on X, together with photographs of the military personnel that were killed.

Georgian aviation authority said that contact with the plane was lost a few minutes after it entered Georgia’s airspace. The plane had not issued a distress signal, it said.

The C-130 Hercules military cargo plane is made by U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The planes are widely used by Türkiye’s armed forces for transporting personnel and handling logistical operations. The plane was manufactured in 1968 and initially served in Saudi Arabia. It was added to the Turkish Armed Forces inventory in 2010, media reported.

Although multiple theories have circulated regarding the cause of the crash, two primary possibilities were being considered, according to the media.

The first is that long-term corrosion may have weakened the aircraft’s structural integrity, leaving it vulnerable to pressure differentials at cruising altitude.

The second scenario involves a possible cargo shift inside the fuselage if cargo had not been properly secured, potentially causing a sudden weight imbalance during flight.

The fact that the aircraft went down immediately after crossing the border has prompted speculation about sabotage, an attack or malfunctioning air-defense systems, though no evidence currently supports these claims. Other possibilities — such as onboard ammunition detonation or pilot error — also remained on the table.

There was no information on funeral arrangements or when the remains would be returned to Türkiye.

The aircraft belonged to the 12th Air Base Command in Kayseri. It had departed Kayseri on Nov. 11, flown to Azerbaijan to pick up personnel in Ganja, and was en route to Merzifon in northern Türkiye.

As the news plunged Türkiye into mourning, condolence messages poured in from both within the country and abroad.

Speaking during an event, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered condolences for the fallen soldiers, with several ministers also shared the deep sorrow with messages.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party leader Özgür Özel shared a condolence message for the soldiers.

Nationalist Movement Party Chairman Devlet Bahçeli released a condolence message for the soldiers, saying that the incident will be thought examined from all angles.

Azerbaijan’s President İlham Aliyev and Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili extended their condolences to their Turkish counterparts over the crash.

“We are deeply shocked,” Aliyev said in a message.

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack offered his condolences and affirmed Washington's solidarity with Ankara.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also extended his sympathies, honored the military personnel who were killed and thanked all NATO personnel for their service.

Turkish Cyprus, Italy, Romania, Kosovo, Iran, Qatar, Egypt and Kuwait were among several nations showing solidarity with Türkiye.

Various other countries also expressed sorrow through their diplomatic missions in Ankara, including Japan, France, Russia, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany and Ukraine.