Turkish Military Cargo Plane Crashes in Georgia, 20 Airmen Killed

Accident occurs shortly after take‑off from Azerbaijan

Ankara – The Turkish Defence Minister announced on Tuesday that a Turkish Air Force cargo aircraft crashed in the Georgian region of Shida Kartli, killing all twenty servicemen on board.

The plane had departed from Azerbaijan earlier in the day on a routine transport mission when it vanished from radar less than an hour after take‑off. Georgian and Turkish rescue teams converged on the remote crash site within hours.

In a brief statement, the minister said, “We mourn the loss of our brave airmen and extend our deepest condolences to their families. A thorough investigation will be launched to determine the cause of this tragedy.”

Georgian authorities confirmed that the wreckage was found in a mountainous area near the border, and that local emergency services had assisted in the recovery of the bodies.

The Turkish President is expected to address the nation later this week, honoring the fallen and outlining support measures for their families.