A Turkish military transport aircraft carrying at least 20 people has crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border, triggering a massive search and rescue operation in rugged terrain.
Turkey’s defence ministry confirmed that the C-130 Hercules, a US-made military cargo plane used by air forces around the world, went down while flying from Azerbaijan to Turkey. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, but the early statements from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have struck a sombre tone.
The Turkish leader offered condolences to what he called “our martyrs,” signalling the likelihood of fatalities. Emergency crews are currently scouring the wreckage for survivors.
The crash site, located near Sighnaghi, around 5km (3 miles) from the Azerbaijan border, was identified after the aircraft vanished from radar without issuing a distress call, according to Georgia’s aviation authority.
Images from the scene show flames and twisted wreckage scattered across the landscape as firefighters and military rescuers work to extinguish fires and locate those on board.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences to Erdoğan and the Turkish people, saying he was “deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of servicemen.” Messages of sympathy have also come from around the world, including from US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said on X (formerly Twitter):
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the people of Türkiye.”
The C-130, a versatile four-engine transport aircraft known for its reliability and global use in both military and humanitarian missions, has been a workhorse of the Turkish Air Force for decades.
As rescue efforts continue through the night, questions are already being raised about what caused the plane to go down so suddenly, with no distress signal and no sign of trouble beforehand.
For now, Turkey is united in grief, waiting for answers, and praying that some of those on board may still be found alive.
