A Turkish military transport aircraft has crashed in eastern Georgia, near the border with Azerbaijan, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The C-130 Hercules was en route from Azerbaijan to Turkey when it went down about five kilometers from the Georgian border town of Signagi, according to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“An investigation is underway under Article 275, Part 4 of the Criminal Code – violation of flight safety rules leading to fatalities. The ministry will provide detailed updates as information becomes available,” the statement said.
Crash and Investigation
The C-130 aircraft, belonging to the Turkish Air Force, disappeared from Georgian air traffic control radar shortly after entering Georgian airspace. Officials from the Georgian Air Navigation Service (GASA) said the plane vanished without issuing a distress signal.
“A few minutes after crossing into Georgia, the Turkish C-130 disappeared from our radar screens without transmitting any emergency alert. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched in line with standard aviation protocols,” GASA said.
Search and Rescue Operations
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, there were 20 servicemen on board, including the flight crew.
“Search and rescue operations are continuing at the crash site in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities,” the ministry stated.
The Georgian Interior Ministry confirmed the incident and said investigators are examining possible technical and weather-related causes.
International Response
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to discuss the progress of rescue operations. Kobakhidze expressed condolences to Erdoğan and the families of the victims, according to Turkish media outlet Hürriyet.
Officials from all three countries – Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia – are now coordinating efforts on the ground. The crash site lies within a remote area near the tri-border region, complicating access for emergency teams.
