Turkish Military Plane Crash in Georgia Kills 20 Soldiers, Black Box Found

Summary:
A Turkish military transport plane tragically crashed in Georgia, resulting in the deaths of 20 Turkish soldiers. The C-130 cargo aircraft, which had departed from Azerbaijan en route to Turkey, went down on Tuesday, leaving a scene of scattered debris across a grassy area. This incident marks the deadliest for the NATO member’s military since 2020.

Turkish authorities have not yet released a definitive cause for the crash but confirmed that joint investigations with Georgian counterparts have commenced at the site. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that the plane’s black box has been recovered, and inspections are underway. He also confirmed that the remains of 19 soldiers have been found, with the search for the last victim ongoing.

Footage from the crash site, located near the Azerbaijani border, showed emergency services, including ambulances, firetrucks, and military vehicles, surrounding the burned wreckage as search-and-rescue teams scoured the ground. Ankara is closely coordinating with both Azerbaijan and Georgia on the investigation. Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense firm that manufactures the C-130 Hercules, has offered its assistance in the probe.

The C-130 Hercules is a widely used four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft known for its versatility in carrying cargo, troops, and equipment, as well as its capabilities in airborne assault and reconnaissance missions. Unverified social media videos from Tuesday depicted the plane breaking apart mid-air before spiraling to the ground in flames. Analysts have noted that the Turkish C-130 fleet is aging and potentially in need of modernization, despite the aircraft’s general reliability. The specific plane involved in the Georgia plane crash was reportedly 57 years old.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/turkey-says-20-soldiers-killed-military-cargo-plane-crash-georgia-2025-11-12/