Death toll from Turkish military aircraft crash in Georgia rises to 20

A Turkish C-130E Hercules — a four-engine turboprop tactical airlifter — went down in Georgia shortly after entering the country’s airspace on Tuesday, killing all 20 people on board, according to Turkish authorities, as reported by Euronews.

Video footage circulating online appeared to show the plane spiraling rapidly toward the ground, trailing white smoke.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, saying he was «deeply saddened» by the tragedy.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a close ally of Turkey, also offered condolences.

«We were deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of servicemen in the crash of a Turkish Air Force military cargo plane, which took off from Ganja and crashed in Georgian territory,» Aliyev said in a message published by state media.

«In this moment of sorrow, I share your grief and, on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, extend heartfelt condolences to you, the families and loved ones of the deceased, and the fraternal people of Türkiye,» he added.

The plane reportedly crashed in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, just minutes after departing from Azerbaijani territory. Georgian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The crash comes shortly after a major military parade in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, celebrating the anniversary of the reconciliation of Karabakh, a breakaway region that had been under Armenian control for more than 30 years. Personnel from Turkey and Pakistan also took part in the parade.