DZWatch Exclusive: A Turkish military cargo plane crashed near the Azerbaijani-Georgian border on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of all 20 personnel on board, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
The C-130 Hercules aircraft went down in the Kakheti region, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation. Georgian Interior Minister Gela Geladze confirmed that 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, while the search continues for the remaining two.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler released a statement expressing condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Turkish people. The Ministry indicated that the plane was returning to Turkey from Azerbaijan and carrying 20 individuals, including the flight crew.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that a specialized team will conduct a thorough examination of the wreckage to determine the factors that led to the incident.
Eyewitness videos circulating online purportedly show the aircraft spiraling downwards, emitting white smoke before crashing and erupting in thick black smoke. Reports suggest that a section of the plane may have disintegrated mid-air.
Georgian authorities have launched an official investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the crash. The C-130 Hercules is a U.S.-manufactured military transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin and widely used by numerous countries worldwide since the 1950s. The incident raises serious questions about the safety and maintenance of aging military aircraft.
