Turkey suspends C-130 flights after fatal military plane crash

Thursday 13 November 2025 - 13:00

By: Sahili Aya

Turkey suspends C-130 flights after fatal military plane crash

Turkey has suspended operations of its C-130 military cargo planes following a crash in neighboring Georgia that killed all 20 people on board, the defence ministry announced on Thursday.

The plane went down on Tuesday while returning from Azerbaijan, and the victims’ bodies were scheduled to be repatriated on Thursday. “Flights by our C-130 aircraft have been suspended as of November 12, 2025,” the ministry said, noting that operations would resume only after detailed technical inspections and safety checks.

The aircraft took off from Ganja Airport in western Azerbaijan and crashed shortly after crossing the border into eastern Georgia. Dramatic eyewitness footage published by Azerbaijani media showed the plane spinning horizontally with debris falling.

Authorities have recovered the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders for examination in Ankara. The ministry clarified that the aircraft was carrying personnel and maintenance supplies, with no ammunition onboard.

Among the passengers were specialists responsible for F-16 fighter jets that had participated in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day military parade on Saturday. The parade was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his top ministers.

The C-130 was purchased from Saudi Arabia in 2012, added to the Turkish Air Force in 2014 after upgrades, and modernised in 2022. The ministry emphasized that the aircraft had been in regular service and was not decommissioned by its previous operator.

“The cause of the incident will be clarified following a detailed investigation by the accident investigation team. We are continuing our efforts to reach a conclusion as soon as possible,” the ministry stated.