Istanbul. A Turkish military cargo plane has crashed in eastern Georgia, killing all 20 people on board, the Turkish government has confirmed.

According to Turkey’s Defense Ministry, the C-130 Hercules plane took off from the western city of Gaza in Azerbaijan on Tuesday afternoon and crashed shortly after crossing Georgian airspace.

All 20 security personnel and technical personnel on board were killed. “On November 11, 2025, our brave comrades were martyred when our C-130 military cargo plane crashed while returning from Azerbaijan,” Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler said in a statement on his official X account. The country will always remember their sacrifice. ’

Turkey has not yet released an official explanation of the cause of the crash. However, eyewitnesses published by Azerbaijani media showed the plane falling sharply from the air and hitting the ground, breaking into large pieces and sending smoke billowing around.

According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, the accident took place in the Sighnaghi area, about five kilometers from the border with Azerbaijan. Local security agencies and rescue teams have been sent to the site and necessary investigations have been initiated, the ministry said.

Georgian Air Traffic Control officials said the plane lost radar contact shortly after entering its airspace. “The plane suddenly lost contact without transmitting any distress signal,” a senior official said. Emergency services then located the crash site.

The C-130 Hercules was manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is used by armies around the world to transport goods and manpower.

Turkish and Georgian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. According to preliminary assessments, bad weather or technical problems could have been the most likely cause of the accident.

The Turkish government paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and offered condolences to their families.