A Turkish military cargo plane carrying 20 personnel crashed in eastern Georgia near the Azerbaijani border on Tuesday, according to official statements from Ankara and Tbilisi. Turkey's Defense Ministry has said that all 20 troops on board have been killed.

"I am deeply saddened by the crash," Erdogan said, extending condolences for the "martyrs" and expressing hope that the tragedy could be overcome with "the least amount of setbacks possible."

DisasterVision: Horrific footage of a Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft disintegrating in mid-air! Debris fell near the Azerbaijan border after departing from Azerbaijan. The plane fell in 3 different sections and it’s been confirmed that 20 people were on board the aircraft. pic.twitter.com/GfUmOmL5gj

— John Cremeans (@JohnCremeansX) November 11, 2025

Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed the aircraft was a C-130 model that had taken off from Azerbaijan and was en route back to Turkey when the incident occurred. The ministry said all 20 people on board were military personnel, including crew members.

Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s leaders, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, offered their condolences following the crash. 

According to Georgia’s aviation authority, communication with the aircraft was lost only minutes after it entered Georgian airspace. The plane reportedly did not issue a distress call. Footage aired by Turkish media showed the aircraft spiraling mid-air with white smoke trailing behind it.

Search and rescue efforts underway at crash site

Georgian officials reached the crash site around 5 pm in the Sighnaghi municipality, close to the Azerbaijani border. Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that a search and rescue operation was launched immediately. The Turkish military also deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle to support the efforts. 

Georgia’s Interior Ministry announced that a formal investigation is underway, and expressions of solidarity and condolences were issued from both Azerbaijan and Georgia. "We are deeply shocked by the news of the loss of life of our soldiers in the accident that occurred on Georgian soil," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a message, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili also extended condolences to her Turkish counterparts.

💔The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the death of 20 service members in a plane crash.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that 20 service members were killed in the crash of a #C130 military transport plane in #Georgia. pic.twitter.com/QHdf4USute

— News.Az (@news_az) November 12, 2025

The crash follows recent high-profile demonstrations of military cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan. 

The Turkish Armed Forces widely use C-130 military aircraft for personnel transport and logistical operations. The crash is a significant blow amid an already heightened regional atmosphere.