Turkey announced on Wednesday that a tragic incident occurred when a military transport plane crashed in Georgia the day before, resulting in the loss of 20 Turkish soldiers. This marks the deadliest military event for the NATO member since 2020. The C-130 cargo aircraft, which departed from Azerbaijan bound for Turkey, crashed in Georgia on Tuesday, scattering wreckage across a grassy area.
Ankara has not yet disclosed the cause of the crash, but Turkish and Georgian authorities commenced investigations at the crash site in the Sighnaghu municipality of Georgia’s Kakheti district early Wednesday. Footage from the scene near the Azerbaijan border showed emergency services vehicles surrounding the burnt fuselage, with search and rescue teams scouring the area.
Unconfirmed social media clips on Tuesday depicted the aircraft breaking apart mid-flight and descending rapidly towards the ground in flames. On Wednesday, the Turkish Defence Ministry released the names of the 20 soldiers who perished in the crash.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the Georgian aviation authority stated that contact with the plane was lost shortly after it entered Georgian airspace and no distress signal was issued. C-130 military cargo planes play a pivotal role in Turkey’s military operations for troop transport and logistical tasks.
Turkey and Azerbaijan have a strong military alliance, and leaders from both countries, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, have expressed their condolences and support to Turkey following the tragic incident. Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler engaged in discussions with his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts, as well as Azerbaijan’s chief of staff, to coordinate search and rescue efforts.
Lockheed Martin, the U.S. manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules aircraft widely used by various air forces globally, extended its sympathies and pledged assistance to Turkey during the investigation. The C-130 Hercules is renowned for its versatility as a cargo, troop, and equipment carrier aircraft capable of operating from unprepared runways.
Despite the reliability of the C-130 fleet, some analysts have pointed out that the aged Turkish C-130s may require replacement. Observations from footage and experts suggest the aircraft disintegrated mid-flight, with indications of fuel being released, possibly for an emergency landing. FlightRadar24 and Turkish defense analysts revealed that the crashed plane, in service with the Turkish Air Force since 2010, was 57 years old.
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