President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressed deep sorrow over the crash of a Turkish Air Force C-130 military cargo plane in Georgia, which was en route from Azerbaijan to Türkiye.

“Our C130 type military cargo plane, carrying our unit in Azerbaijan for the 5th anniversary celebrations of the Karabakh Victory, crashed in the Sighnaghi region near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border shortly after taking off to arrive in our country,” Erdoğan announced on the X platform.

The President extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Turkish Armed Forces, emphasizing that the incident is being investigated thoroughly with the support of Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.

“We are thoroughly investigating this tragic incident, which has deeply saddened our Azerbaijani brothers and Georgian friends, along with our nation. Georgian authorities are providing the utmost facilitation and cooperation during this process. Our Azerbaijani brothers are likewise providing all necessary support and contributions,” Erdoğan stated.

He reassured the public that all resources of Türkiye, along with those of Georgia and Azerbaijan, have been mobilized for the operation. “We are monitoring the work in the field from moment to moment. We will ensure that all aspects of the incident are brought to light,” he added, urging citizens to remain cautious about misinformation and political exploitation of the tragedy on social media.

The crash occurred in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, approximately five kilometres from the state border, as the aircraft was flying along the Azerbaijan–Türkiye route. An investigation has been launched under Article 275, Part 4 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which addresses violations of air transport safety or operational regulations resulting in loss of life or injury.