A handout photo released by the press service of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs shows Georgian rescuers working at the crash site of a Turkish military plane near Sighnaghi, Georgia, on Tuesday. Turkey’s Defense Ministry said the C-130 was en route from Azerbaijan. Twenty Turkish service members, including the crew, were on board. Photo by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia Press Service/EPA
A Turkish military cargo plane crash Tuesday in the Republic of Georgia left all military personnel on board dead, according to Turkey’s government.
All 20 Turkish military service members, including its flight crew, died traveling on Turkish C-130 cargo plane following a crash near Sighnaghi close the Azerbaijani border in the former soviet satellite Republic of Georgia at the bottom south-west tip of Russia.
The C-130 typically is used to transport Turkey’s armed forces and other logistical operations.
Turkey’s leader was “deeply” saddened, he said, and expressed sympathies.
“In this moment of sorrow, I share your grief and, on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, extend heartfelt condolences to you, the families and loved ones of the deceased, and the fraternal people of Turkey” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
The standard C-130 Hercules took off from Azerbaijan on its way home to Turkey when the four-engine turboprop crashed, according to Turkey’s defense ministry.
“Our efforts to reach the wreckage are continuing in coordination with the national authorities,” Erdogan said in a statement, adding “may God have mercy on our martyrs.”
Video footage depicted the aircraft spiraling out of control with a trail of white smoke.
Authorities said a joint Georgian-Azerbaijani rescue operation was underway.
“We were deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of servicemen in the crash of a Turkish Air Force military cargo plane, which took off from Ganja and crashed in Georgian territory,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.
