A Turkish military C-130 cargo aircraft has crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border after taking off from Azerbaijan, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed on November 11, 2025.
“A C-130 military cargo plane departing from Azerbaijan to Turkey crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border,” the ministry said in a statement. “Search and rescue efforts have been initiated in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities.”
The ministry later confirmed that 20 people were on board the aircraft.
According to Georgian authorities, the C-130 “disappeared from radar a few minutes after entering Georgian airspace, without issuing any distress signal.”
We’re following reports of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules, belonging to the Turkish Air Force, that is suspected to have crashed in Georgia, close to the border of Azerbaijan. Evidence points to the aircraft being #TUAF543, which departed Ganja Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC.… pic.twitter.com/xqrEWbMiRk
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 11, 2025
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the aircraft broken apart mid-air before impact. The fuselage disintegrates, with the forward section falling separately while the wingbox spins toward the ground and explodes upon impact. The tail section appears to be missing.
❗🇹🇷
Un avion de transport C-130 de l’armée turque s’est écrasé. pic.twitter.com/iNQrcy12eO
— Antoine 🇫🇷 (@thetoitoi) November 11, 2025
No information has yet been released regarding the number or condition of the crew members on board.
The Turkish Air Force currently operates a fleet of 18 C-130B and C-130E Hercules aircraft, primarily used for tactical transport and humanitarian missions.
In October 2025, Turkey confirmed a deal to acquire 12 surplus Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules airlifters from the United Kingdom, a move aimed at modernizing its medium-lift transport fleet as it phases out its older B and E models.
