A Turkish military C-130 cargo aircraft has crashed in Georgia while traveling from Azerbaijan, the Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed Tuesday.

The incident involving the transport plane prompted immediate search and rescue operations conducted through coordination between Turkish and Georgian authorities in the crash area.

Following the crash announcement, the Defense Ministry stated via social media platform X that "search and rescue operations have begun in coordination with Georgian authorities." The collaborative emergency response underscores the operational partnership between Türkiye and Georgia in addressing cross-border military incidents and ensuring rapid emergency response capabilities.

Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the number of personnel aboard the C-130 transport aircraft at the time of the incident or potential casualty figures. The lack of immediate information about crew members or passengers is characteristic of early stages in military aviation incident investigations, where confirmation processes typically precede public announcements.

The C-130 Hercules represents a cornerstone of Türkiye's military transport fleet, regularly conducting missions throughout the region including flights to and from Azerbaijan.

The crash occurrence in Georgia during a routing from Azerbaijan highlights the active operational tempo of the Turkish Air Force in the Caucasus region and the inherent risks associated with military aviation activities in challenging geographical environments. (ILKHA)

(ILKHA)