On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, a Turkish Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft crashed in Sighnaghi Municipality, located in Georgia’s Kakheti region, near the Azerbaijani border. The plane had taken off from Ganja Airport in Azerbaijan and was en route to Turkey when it went down shortly after crossing into Georgian airspace.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that all 20 soldiers aboard were killed. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler described the victims as “heroic comrades-in-arms” and shared their names in a public tribute. The crash site was strewn with wreckage, and emergency services from both Turkey and Georgia responded swiftly.
Investigations are underway, with Turkish and Georgian authorities conducting joint inspections to determine the cause of the crash. No official explanation has been provided yet, but the incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of military aviation safety protocols.
This tragedy is Turkey’s worst military loss since the 2020 Idlib airstrike, which killed 33 Turkish troops. Leaders from Georgia, Azerbaijan, and other international partners have extended condolences to Turkey and the families of the victims.
Sources: The Kathmandu Post Civil Georgia The Star Aljazeera France 24 US News
