A Turkish Air Force C130 military cargo plane crashed at the Georgia-Azerbaijan border while traveling from Azerbaijan to Turkey with 20 personnel aboard, Turkey's Defense Ministry announced on social media. "Our C130 military cargo plane that took off from Azerbaijan to come to our country crashed at the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. Search and rescue operations have been initiated in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities," the ministry stated, adding that the crashed aircraft carried 20 personnel including the flight crew and that search and rescue operations are continuing.
Mehmet Daniş, president of Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council, issued a statement addressing all broadcasting organizations, emphasizing that information made outside official authorities should not be trusted and only statements from authorized bodies should be considered, local media reported. "We strongly remind all our media organizations that information and statements made outside official authorities should not be trusted; only the statements of authorized bodies should be taken into account," Daniş said, according to Turkish media. "In such sensitive situations, it is of great importance that broadcasters not only inform the public correctly, but also show respect for the families of our martyrs and the sensitivities of society, so it is important not to share footage of the crash moment and the scene."
Video: The crash of the C130 / Social media
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said on social media, "I learned with great sadness the news that our military cargo plane belonging to our Ministry of National Defense, which was on its way back to our country from Azerbaijan, crashed in Georgia. We are closely following the search and rescue operations continuing in the region," Turkish outlets reported. Azerbaijan Prime Minister Ali Asadov stated his country is ready to provide all assistance for search and rescue activities, speaking by phone with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze about support for the operations. Kobakhidze thanked Azerbaijan for the support, stating that representatives of relevant institutions are continuing their work at the scene.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to offer condolences and sent a condolence message stating, "We were extremely shocked by the news that soldiers lost their lives as a result of a military cargo plane belonging to the Turkish Air Force, which took off from Ganja, crashed on Georgian territory," Azerbaijani authorities reported. "In this difficult time, I share your sorrow and convey my deepest condolences on behalf of the Azerbaijani people to you, to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, to the brotherly Turkish people due to the tragedy," Aliyev said in his message, according to Turkish media. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov also sent a condolence message to Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler.
Turkish Air Force C130 crashes near Azerbaijani-Georgian border: During the last moments of the @flightradar24 tracking, C130 climbs another 400 meters. Another flying object? Or is there some other reason for this recording? pic.twitter.com/Yu0xoX8jDM
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) November 11, 2025
The Georgian Interior Ministry stated the C130 military cargo plane crashed in the Signagi region, 3.1 miles from the Azerbaijan border, and an investigation has been launched with detailed information to be shared gradually, Turkish media reported. Georgia's Air Navigation Administration stated the radar connection was lost minutes after the plane entered Georgian airspace, with the announcement noting that the plane did not send any emergency signal, according to Turkish media.
