Turkish Military Plane Crashes in Georgia, Leaving Scores Dead and Injured
Image Source: Internet
A Turkish military cargo plane carrying at least 20 personnel crashed in Georgia on Tuesday, sparking a massive rescue effort. The C-130 aircraft went down near the Azerbaijan border, with reports suggesting that chunks of twisted metal and debris were scattered across a grassy area. Initial footage from the scene showed the plane corkscrewing towards the earth before bursting into flames, but the authenticity of the video could not be verified. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan interrupted a speech in Ankara to offer condolences, using the term "martyrs" to describe the service personnel killed in the crash. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and officials have not released a death toll. Local reports suggest that both Turkish and Azerbaijani personnel were on board, but the exact number of casualties and nationalities involved are unclear. The US ambassador to Turkey extended condolences to the families of the fallen and expressed solidarity with the Turkish allies. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev discussed the incident with Erdogan, describing it as the "tragic loss of servicemen." Turkey's Defence Ministry confirmed that 20 Turkish personnel were on board, including the flight crew, but provided no further details on possible passengers of other nationalities. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Sighnaghi municipality of Kakheti, a border region known for its floodplain forests and rolling hills. The incident is being investigated under a criminal code article covering air transport and loss of life. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, expressed its condolences to those affected by the crash and to Turkey's Air Force and citizens. The C-130 is a widely used military transport aircraft known for its versatility and ability to operate on unprepared runways.
