2025 Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130 crash

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2025 Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130 crash
68-1609, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2023
Accident
DateNovember 11, 2025 (2025-11-11)
SummaryCrashed after an in-flight breakup; under investigation
SiteNear Rustavi, Sighnaghi Municipality, Kakheti, Georgia
41°25′00″N 45°45′06″E / 41.41667°N 45.75167°E / 41.41667; 45.75167
Map
Aircraft
Aircraft typeLockheed C-130EM Hercules
OperatorTurkish Air Force
ICAO flight No.HVK543
Call signTURKISH AIRFORCE 543
Registration68-1609
Flight originGanja International Airport, Ganja, Azerbaijan
DestinationMerzifon Air Base, Merzifon, Turkey
Occupants20
Fatalities20
Survivors0

On 11 November 2025, a Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules flying from Ganja International Airport, Ganja, Azerbaijan, to Merzifon Air Base, Merzifon, Turkey, experienced an in-flight breakup, splitting into 3 pieces, and crashed in Georgia, near the Azerbaijan–Georgia border, killing all 20 occupants on board.[1]

Background

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Aircraft

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The aircraft involved was a 57-year-old Lockheed C-130EM Hercules designated 68–1609, with manufacturer serial number 382-4311. Built in 1968, it was originally delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force. It entered service with the Turkish Air Force in March 2010 and was in regular service prior to the accident.[2] The plane belonged to the 12th Air Base Command in Kayseri.[3] The C-130B/E Hercules is widely used by Turkey for military and humanitarian transport.[4]

Passengers and crew

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The aircraft carried at least 20 occupants, including an unspecified number of crew members.[5] Local media reported that both Turkish and Azerbaijani military personnel were aboard.[6] The Turkish Ministry of Defense said that 20 of its soldiers were on board, without mentioning occupants of other nationalities.[7]

Accident

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The aircraft took off from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC with data suggesting it reached a maximum altitude of 7315 m (24,000 ft). The last known recorded speed from the aircraft was 302 knots (kts) as its true airspeed.[2] The aircraft was on its way to Merzifon, Turkey when it broke up in mid-air over Georgia[3][6] and crashed in the Sighnaghi municipality.[8] The aircraft vanished from radars 27 minutes after crossing into Georgia, without issuing a distress signal.[9][5][10] A video showed the aircraft in multiple pieces, with a section of fuselage with wings attached spiraling and leaking what appeared to be fuel before impacting the ground.[4][11] The Turkish government said all 20 people on board were killed.[12] Authorities recovered the remains of 18 victims and efforts for the other two were ongoing as of 12 November.[13][14] The wreckage was scattered across multiple locations on a plain that includes farmland and is surrounded by hills.[3]

Investigation

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An investigation was started for "violation of flight safety regulations or rules for the operation of an air vehicle resulting in human casualties" in Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will provide detailed information about the incident to the public in stages.[15] A 46-member Turkish accident investigation team reached the site and began inspecting the wreckage.[16] Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed investigators have found the flight recorder.[17] The wreckage was transferred to Turkey for further investigation.[18]

Lockheed Martin, the US-based manufacturer of the C-130, said it would assist in the investigation.[14] On 13 November, the Turkish defence ministry announced the grounding of all C-130s of the Turkish Armed Forces for technical inspections.[19]

Aftermath

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Immediately after the crash, a coordinated search and rescue effort was launched by Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.[12] Georgian authorities arrived at the scene of the crash at approximately 5 p.m., and the Turkish military sent an unmanned aerial vehicle in support of the rescue efforts.[1]

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences for the victims involved. Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, expressed his support to the families of the victims and said that his country "stands in solidarity with our Turkish allies".[7] NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte conveyed his sympathies, honored the military personnel who died and thanked all NATO personnel for their service.[3]

A funeral ceremony for the victims was held at an airbase in Ankara on 14 November, after which their remains were transferred to their respective hometowns.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Turkish military plane with 20 on board crashes in Georgia". Associated Press. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b Gustafsson, Daniel (11 November 2025). "Turkish Military Aircraft TUAF543 Crashes in Georgia, November 11th 2025". Flightradar24. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Turkish military plane crash in Georgia kills all 20 on board". NBC News. AP.
  4. ^ a b "Turkish military plane with 20 aboard catches fire mid-air, crashes in Georgia - watch". The Times of India. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Turkish military cargo plane crashes with at least 20 on board near Georgia and Azerbaijan border". BBC News. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Turkish military plane crashes in Georgia with at least 20 on board". Reuters. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b Sullivan, Rory. "Turkish military plane with at least 20 on board crashes in Georgia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  8. ^ Duggan, Joe (13 November 2025). "Turkish military plane crash kills 20". The i Paper. p. 32. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Turkish military cargo plane crashes in neighboring Georgia, killing 20 troops". CBS News. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Large explosion as Nato military plane crashes in Georgia". The Independent. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  11. ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "Detached Wings From Doomed Turkish C-130 Seen Spiraling Into The Ground (Updated)". The War Zone. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Twenty killed in Turkish military plane crash in Georgia after leaving Azerbaijan". Euronews. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Turkish military plane crash in Georgia kills all 20 on board". CTV News. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Turkey says 20 troops killed in Georgia plane crash; inspections ongoing". Reuters. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  15. ^ Azizov, Khatayi (11 November 2025). "Türkiyəyə məxsus hərbi təyyarənin qəzaya uğraması ilə bağlı araşdırmalara başlanılıb" [Investigation launched into Turkish military plane crash]. Xalq Qazeti (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Turkish military plane crash in Georgia kills all 20 on board". Associated Press. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Investigators looking into the Turkish plane crash in Georgia have found the plane's black box". The Guardian. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Düşen askeri uçağın enkazı tırlarla yurda getirildi" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Turkey temporarily grounds C-130 planes after crash kills 20 military personnel". AP News. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Turkey holds funeral for 20 military personnel killed in Georgia plane crash". AP News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
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