Turkish Air Force C-130 Crashes in Georgia — 19 Bodies and Black Box Recovered

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In a tragic event that has shaken the region, a Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft crashed in eastern Georgia near the Azerbaijan border on November 11, 2025, killing all 20 people on board. Turkish officials have confirmed that 19 bodies have been recovered and the aircraft’s flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders (black boxes) have been found.

Flight & Crash Details

According to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, the C-130 had taken off from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan en route to Kayseri, Türkiye, after supporting military logistics related to Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations. The aircraft disappeared from radar approximately 15 minutes after entering Georgian airspace, with the crash site located near the village of Anaga in Georgia’s Sighnaghi Municipality, around 5 kilometers from the Azerbaijan-Georgia border.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft break apart mid-air before crashing into hilly terrain and bursting into flames. Video clips shared on Georgian and Turkish media show debris scattered across a large area. Local emergency services and Georgian military units were first to arrive on the scene.

Victims and Recovery Efforts

All 20 personnel, including flight crew and Turkish military technicians, were confirmed dead. Rescue operations were jointly conducted by Georgian emergency teams, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and military police units.

By early November 12, 19 bodies had been recovered and sent to Tbilisi for identification before being repatriated to Türkiye. A national day of mourning was declared by Ankara, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences to the families, describing the victims as “martyrs who served their nation faithfully.”

Black Box Found — Investigation Underway

Both the flight-data recorder (FDR) and cockpit-voice recorder (CVR) were located and handed over to Turkish investigators. A joint inquiry team from Türkiye’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation, Turkish Air Force, and Georgian transport authorities is leading the investigation, assisted by representatives from Lockheed Martin, the aircraft manufacturer.

Preliminary findings from radar data show a sudden loss of altitude and breakup sequence, suggesting possible structural failure or engine malfunction. Officials stated that there was no evidence of an external explosion or hostile action.

Ankara has ordered fleet-wide inspections of its aging C-130E/H aircraft, many of which have been in service for over 40 years.

About the Turkish C-130 Hercules Fleet

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop aircraft designed for tactical airlift operations. Türkiye has operated more than 25 units of the type since the late 1960s, including both U.S.-built models and upgraded local variants.

These aircraft are used for logistics, humanitarian relief, and troop transport, making them vital to Türkiye’s regional and NATO missions. Despite modernization programs, many of the fleet’s airframes are decades old, raising concerns about metal fatigue, structural wear, and avionics obsolescence.

A similar C-130 crash occurred in 2001 near Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, killing 34 soldiers, underscoring long-term maintenance challenges for these legacy aircraft.

Regional Implications

The accident comes amid heightened regional cooperation between Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Military transport flights frequently use shared corridors for joint exercises and logistics. Analysts suggest this tragedy could prompt review of regional air-traffic coordination protocols and maintenance standards for aging military fleets.

Furthermore, NATO is closely monitoring the situation since Turkish C-130s also support allied humanitarian operations and missions abroad. The findings of this investigation may influence fleet replacement timelines and potentially accelerate Türkiye’s procurement of newer transport aircraft like the Airbus A400M Atlas.

What Happens Next

• The Turkish investigation team will analyze black box data and issue a preliminary report within 30 days.

• The Georgian Civil Aviation Authority is expected to release an independent summary of air-traffic and radar findings.

• Türkiye may announce temporary grounding of certain older C-130 variants until mechanical integrity is assured.

• Memorial ceremonies for the fallen personnel are planned in Ankara and Kayseri, where the aircraft’s home unit was based.