Turkish Military Plane Crash in Georgia Kills All 20 Onboard
Turkish Military Plane Crash in Georgia Kills 20
Ankara, Turkey – A tragic plane crash in Georgia on November 11, 2025, has claimed the lives of all 20 personnel aboard a Turkish military C-130 cargo plane. The aircraft, en route from Azerbaijan to Turkey, crashed in Sighnaghi, a municipality near the Azerbaijani border.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the crash and said the plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after entering Georgian airspace. The plane had not issued a distress signal. Wreckage was found scattered across farmland and hills in the area. Georgian authorities have recovered 18 bodies, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining two.
A Turkish investigation team has arrived at the site and is working with Georgian officials to determine the cause of the crash. The plane had flown from Kayseri, Turkey, picked up personnel in Ganja, Azerbaijan, and was heading to Merzifon, Turkey.
The C-130, a key logistics aircraft for the Turkish military, was built in 1968 and added to Turkey’s fleet in 2010. No details have emerged yet about whether the personnel had attended Azerbaijan’s recent Victory Day celebrations.
International leaders have expressed their condolences. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian officials offered their sympathy, and NATO and U.S. representatives also extended their support. Turkey has not yet disclosed funeral arrangements.
The investigation continues as Turkish and Georgian authorities work to uncover the cause of the crash.
