AviationNews – A Turkish Air Force transport plane with 20 military personnel on board has crashed in Georgia after experiencing an apparent mid-air breakup. The C-130 Hercules was returning from a flight to the allied nation of Azerbaijan when the fatal incident occurred on Tuesday.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed the crash on November 11, 2025, stating the aircraft went down near Georgia‘s Sighnaghi municipality, close to the Azerbaijani border. The flight originated from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan and was en route back to Turkey. A massive search and rescue operation has been launched in coordination with both Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.
The aircraft involved was identified as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop that serves as the workhorse of the Turkish Air Force‘s transport fleet. Disturbing footage reportedly shows the aircraft descending in pieces, suggesting a catastrophic structural failure in flight. Records indicate the specific airframe was an older C-130E model, which has been in service for several decades.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan interrupted a live speech to address the tragedy, using language that confirmed fatalities. “I am deeply saddened by the crash,” he stated. “May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them through our prayers.”
The focus now shifts to the challenging search and recovery operation in the border region. A full investigation, led by Turkey and supported by Georgia, will be launched to determine the cause of the crash. The reports of a mid-air breakup will be the primary focus for investigators, who will need to determine what caused the 56-year-old aircraft to fail so catastrophically.
This crash marks a tragic loss for the Turkish Armed Forces and raises immediate questions about the airworthiness of its aging tactical transport fleet. The incident will place immense pressure on the defense ministry to determine the cause and ensure the safety of its remaining C-130 aircraft.
