A Turkish military cargo plane crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, killing all 20 military personnel on board. The Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules aircraft was en route to Turkey when it went down in Georgian territory shortly after departing from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident involving flight TUAF543, which departed Ganja at approximately 10:19 UTC. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft had reached its cruising altitude of 24,000 feet, according to sources, before experiencing a catastrophic failure. The last transponder signals indicated a rapid descent with vertical speed exceeding 19,000 feet per minute, according to sources.
Video footage captured by witnesses reportedly shows the aircraft spiraling downward from the sky, trailing white smoke. The footage reveals what appeared to be severe structural damage, with the front section and tail appearing severed from the main fuselage, according to reports. Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güle confirmed that all 20 onboard were killed in the crash. “All 20 onboard were killed in the crash,” Güle stated.
The C-130E Hercules involved in the crash was 57 years old, according to sources. The aircraft was built in 1968 and had been operating regular flights in recent weeks. Records show the plane had completed a flight from Kayseri to Ganja earlier on the day of the crash, arriving at 08:04 UTC before its final, fatal journey.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced on November 12 that the black box from the aircraft had been retrieved and would be examined as part of the investigation. The flight data recorder is expected to provide crucial information about the final moments of the flight and what may have caused the catastrophic structural failure. “Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the incident,” authorities confirmed.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the crash. Both Turkish and Georgian authorities have confirmed the incident and are working to piece together what led to the aircraft’s sudden descent. The investigation will focus on multiple factors, including the aircraft’s age, maintenance history, and the circumstances surrounding the structural breakup visible in the witness video.
The crash site is located near the border between Azerbaijan and Georgia, in Georgian territory. The aircraft had crossed into Georgian airspace at 10:37 UTC, according to flight tracking data, and was maintaining its westward course toward Turkey when the incident occurred approximately 12 minutes later.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely used by air forces around the world. The C-130E variant involved in this crash is an older model of the aircraft family, which has been in production since the 1950s. The Turkish Air Force operates several C-130 aircraft for cargo transport and other military operations.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft followed a typical departure pattern after leaving Ganja International Airport, turning left initially before establishing a northeasterly track. The plane passed the Mingechevir Reservoir and made additional course adjustments, eventually settling on a westward heading after crossing into Georgian airspace. The aircraft was in continuous ascent until reaching 24,000 feet at 10:41 UTC.
The last ADS-B signal received from the aircraft occurred at 10:49:20 UTC. Data from those final seconds suggests the plane experienced a rapid and uncontrolled descent. The vertical speed measurements recorded during this time indicate an extreme rate of descent that would have given the crew minimal time to respond to the emergency.
All 20 individuals aboard the aircraft were military personnel, including the flight crew. The Turkish Ministry of Defense has not released the identities of those killed pending notification of family members. The loss represents one of the deadliest incidents involving Turkish military aircraft in recent years.
The investigation into the crash will likely take several months as authorities examine the recovered black box data, analyze wreckage patterns, and interview witnesses who observed the aircraft’s final moments. The severe structural damage visible in video footage suggests investigators will pay particular attention to potential metal fatigue or other structural issues related to the aircraft’s age.
Georgian authorities are providing support for the investigation and assisting with the crash site examination. The location near the international border requires coordination between multiple government agencies from both countries involved in the recovery and investigative efforts.
