Lockheed C‑130 Hercules Crash in Georgia (11 November 2025)

AeroMorning, November 11, 2025 

On 11 November 2025, a Turkish Air Force C-130 military cargo aircraft crashed in the eastern region of Sighnaghi municipality in Georgia, near the Azerbaijan–Georgia border. 

Flight & crash details

• The aircraft departed from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan, bound for Turkey. 
• It was carrying 20 military personnel (including flight crew) at the time of the crash. 
• According to tracking data, the aircraft reached approximately 24 000 ft altitude, then rapidly descended. 
• Eyewitness and social-media footage suggest the aircraft may have broken up mid-air, spiralled towards the ground trailing smoke, and impacted the terrain. 
• The aircraft disappeared from radar without issuing a distress signal shortly after entering Georgian airspace. 

Casualties & response

• The Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed all 20 on board died in the crash. 
• The incident is reported as Turkey’s deadliest military aviation accident since 2020. 
• Search and rescue operations were conducted in coordination between Georgian and Turkish authorities, and an investigation was launched under Georgian law related to air-transport accidents. 
• Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow and referred to the deceased as “our martyrs.” 

Aircraft & operational context

• The aircraft was a C-130E/H-type Hercules, a widely used four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft capable of operating from unprepared runways. 
• It had entered service many years ago and was used by the Turkish Air Force for logistics, personnel transport and other missions.

Investigation & next steps

• Investigators from Turkey and Georgia are inspecting the wreckage site and analysing flight-data records to determine the cause of the accident. 
• At present, no definitive cause has been released. Speculation includes mid-air structural failure, fire, or external damage, but these remain unconfirmed.