ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Turkey’s defense ministry said Wednesday that all 20 people on board a military cargo plane were killed after it crashed in Georgia on the return journey from Azerbaijan.

“Our heroic comrades-in-arms were martyred on November 11, 2025, when our C-130 military cargo plane, en route from Azerbaijan to our country, crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border,” the ministry said in a statement. 

The plane crashed shortly after crossing into Georgia, according to the ministry. Footage aired by news outlets on Tuesday showed the aircraft spiraling down while leaving a trail of white smoke. 

Following the incident, the ministry said that it had started “rescue operations” in coordination with Azerbaijan and Georgia. 

Burhanettin Duran, head of communications at the Turkish presidency, said that an “investigation into the cause of our plane’s crash will be meticulously conducted.” 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday expressed his condolences and hoped that Ankara “will emerge from this accident with minimal disruption.”

US Ambassador to Turkey said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident. 

“The United States stands in solidarity with our Turkish allies,” Barrack, who is also the US special envoy for Syria, said on X. 

Turkey has made an effort to modernize its air forces, with efforts pushed to acquire 40 European-made fighter aircraft, which are jointly produced by Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

In late October, Ankara hailed a landmark $11-billion deal with Britain to buy 20 Eurofighter jets.