A Turkish military cargo plane crashed in Georgia near the Azerbaijan border on Wednesday, November 12, killing all 20 military personnel aboard.
The Lockheed C-130E Hercules aircraft, operating under the callsign TUAF543, departed from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan and was en route to Turkey when it went down. According to sources, the plane departed Ganja at 10:19 UTC.
Flight tracking data shows the last signal from the aircraft was received at 10:49:20 UTC. The data suggests a rapid descent during the final documented seconds of flight, with recorded vertical speed indications exceeding 19,000 feet per minute.
Video footage that emerged following the crash shows the plane spiraling downward with smoke emanating from the aircraft. According to sources, the cockpit and tail sections appeared to have been severed from the main fuselage during the descent.
The Turkey Ministry of National Defense confirmed that all 20 military personnel on board were killed in the crash. Defense Minister Yaşar Güle confirmed that “all 20 onboard were killed in the crash,” while President Recep Erdogan announced that the aircraft’s black box had been retrieved and would be investigated to determine the cause of the incident.
The aircraft involved, registered as 68-1609, was according to sources 57 years old. The plane had been flying regularly in recent months prior to the crash.
The C-130E Hercules is a military transport class aircraft designed for cargo operations. The specific variant involved in this crash has been used by various air forces around the world for decades, primarily for logistical support and military transport missions.
Turkish authorities have launched a full investigation into the crash. According to official statements, “investigations are underway to determine the cause of the incident.” The investigation will examine both the retrieved black box and other evidence from the crash site.
The crash site in Georgia, located near the Azerbaijan border, has been secured by local authorities working in cooperation with Turkish officials. The recovery operation and investigation involve coordination between Turkish and Georgian government agencies.
This incident represents a significant loss for the Turkish Air Force, not only in terms of the aircraft itself but primarily due to the loss of 20 military personnel. The C-130 Hercules has been a workhorse aircraft for military transport operations globally, known for its versatility and reliability in various operational conditions.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has not released the identities of the 20 military personnel killed in the crash, though such information is typically provided to families before being made public. The aircraft was conducting what appears to have been a routine transport mission between Azerbaijan and Turkey when the incident occurred.
Flight tracking data and video evidence from the crash are expected to play crucial roles in the investigation. The rapid descent rate and visible structural damage captured in footage will likely be key areas of focus for investigators seeking to understand what caused the aircraft to break apart in flight.
The investigation’s findings will be critical for the Turkish Air Force’s continued operation of its remaining C-130 fleet. The retrieval of the black box provides investigators with flight data and cockpit voice recordings that should help establish a timeline of events leading to the crash.
