20 soldiers were killed in a military transport plane crash in Georgia, earlier this week, the Turkish Government has announced. This plane crash is Nato members’ deadliest military incident since 2020. The C-130 aircraft took off from Azerbaijan for Turkey and crashed in Georgia.
Details of the Accident
Turkey’s Defence Ministry earlier this week released the following statement (translated from Turkish):
“A C-130 military cargo plane en route from Azerbaijan to Turkey crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. Search and rescue efforts have been launched in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities.”
The initial footage from the site near Azerbaijan revealed ambulances, firetrucks, and army vehicles in the area carrying out the search-and-rescue.
Amidst this, several unverified social media videos have surfaced, showing the plane breaking apart in the air and then corkscrewing towards the ground.
In addition to this, the Turkish Defence Ministry released a list of the 20 soldiers who were killed on Wednesday.
According to the analysts, the footage and images reveal that the plane broke apart mid-flight, as the C-140 needed renewal.
“The footage appears to show the tail section separating in-flight and fuel streaming from the wingtip valves, suggesting the crew may have been dumping fuel for an emergency landing,” said Jarrod Phillips, a former U.S. Air Force C-130 specialist.
NATO’s reaction to the Accident
Azerbaijan, Georgia, NATO’s Secretary General, Germany, the U.S., Russia, and others have sent their condolences and expressed solidarity with Turkey, post the crash.
Moreover, Ankara is closely coordinating with Azerbaijan and Georgia on the probe. The U.S. defence firm Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, said it is committed to helping the investigation.
The C-130 Hercules is widely used by air forces around the world. It is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, capable of operating from unprepared runways. The versatile nature of the airframe allows space for cargo, troops, and equipment transport.
Meanwhile, two Turkish analysts have shown concern over the age of the aircraft. This accident was the worst non-combat incident in over a decade, sparking questions over the age of the Turkish fleet.
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