Turkish military plane crash in Georgia kills 20 soldiers
A serious Turkish military plane crash occurred in eastern Georgia, where a Turkish military C-130 aircraft crashed on Tuesday, suffering the loss of all 20 soldiers aboard.
The aircraft, which had taken off from Azerbaijan and was heading to Turkey, went down in the Sighnaghi region, near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed the tragedy Wednesday, labeling it the most serious military incident in the last five years. Turkish and Georgian teams have launched a joint investigation into the C-130 Hercules accident, with inspectors arriving at the crash site around 03:30.
Images from the scene show fuselage debris scattered across a wide, grassy slope. Unconfirmed social media footage suggests the plane may have broken up in the air before impact, Reuters notes. This is a crucial element of the ongoing air disaster probe.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan interrupted a public speech to convey condolences to the families of the victims. "May God rest the souls of our martyrs," said the Turkish leader.
Messages of solidarity poured in from the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. US Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, stated that the United States "stands with its Turkish ally in these difficult moments."
The American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which produces the C-130 Hercules aircraft, extended condolences and announced it will cooperate with authorities to support the investigation.
The C-130 Hercules is one of the world's most versatile military transport aircraft, used for transporting troops and equipment, as well as for humanitarian missions. The aircraft can also land on unpaved runways, making it an essential asset for tactical transport in numerous armies.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
