A TURKISH Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules, a military transport class aircraft, has crashed in Georgia, close to the border of neighboring Azerbaijan. The crash has been confirmed by both Turkish and Georgian authorities.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and top officials from Georgia and Azerbaijan signaled that at least some of those aboard were believed to have been killed, without providing details.
Video footage aired on Turkish news outlets appeared to show the aircraft spiraling down and leaving a trail of white smoke.
Unconfirmed video material purportedly shows the aircraft spiraling down from the sky, amidst white smoke. A separate sizeable object most likely emanating from the aircraft can be seen falling towards the ground at a distance.
Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense said there were 20 military personnel on board, including crew members. Georgian authorities reached the crash site at around 5 p.m. (1400 GMT), Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that a search and rescue operation was continuing.
The US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said on X he was "deeply saddened" by the crash.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the people of Türkiye," he added.
The C-130 is a US-made transport plane used by air forces around the world. - November 12, 2025
