13.11.2025 20:39
In a statement following the crash of a C-130 military cargo plane on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border, which resulted in the martyrdom of 20 soldiers, the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) stated that the aircraft was purchased from Saudi Arabia in 2012 and emphasized that it was not a decommissioned plane as claimed, but rather an excess aircraft. The statement also highlighted that the last maintenance of the aircraft was conducted between September 11 and October 12, 2025.
The Ministry of National Defense made a statement regarding the C-130 military cargo plane that crashed on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border. While details about the events before and after the crash were provided, the ministry responded to claims that "the aircraft was decommissioned."
The Ministry of National Defense, in response to reporters' question, "Is it true that the aircraft decommissioned by Saudi Arabia was purchased?" stated, "The aircraft in question was purchased from Saudi Arabia on January 21, 2012, and after its maintenance, it was added to the inventory in 2014. It was modernized and put into service starting in 2022. Since that date, it has been regularly maintained and used in service. However, contrary to claims, it is not an aircraft decommissioned by the user country, but rather a surplus aircraft. C-130 aircraft continue to be used by Saudi Arabia."
LAST MAINTENANCE WAS CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
In response to a question about the aircraft being old and poorly maintained, the ministry stated, "There are no old aircraft, but there are poorly maintained aircraft. The maintenance of the aircraft in question is regularly carried out by our country. C-130 aircraft are currently actively used in more than 70 countries. Upon examining the maintenance history of the crashed aircraft, it was determined that the aircraft underwent Erciyes Avionics modernization, that planned fuselage, engine, and propeller maintenance were carried out on time, and that the last maintenance was performed between September 11 and October 12, 2025."
FLIGHTS SUSPENDED
Finally, the ministry announced that the flights of C-130 military cargo planes have been suspended as of November 12, and that flights will resume after technical inspections.
While details about the events before and after the crash were provided, answers were also given to the questions discussed after the accident. Here are those questions and answers:
1. Was ammunition being transported on the aircraft?
Our aircraft was carrying personnel and aircraft maintenance materials. There was no ammunition on the aircraft.
2. Is there any finding regarding the cause of the aircraft's crash?
It is too early to say anything about this. The cause of the incident will be clarified after the ongoing accident investigation.
3. Is it true that a helicopter was detected in the area at the same minutes in the radar records?
It is a Georgian helicopter that went to the area after our aircraft crashed and tried to establish contact with our aircraft.
4. Is it true that the aircraft decommissioned by Saudi Arabia was purchased?
The aircraft in question was purchased from Saudi Arabia on January 21, 2012, and after its maintenance, it was added to the inventory in 2014. It was modernized and put into service starting in 2022.
Since that date, it has been regularly maintained and used in service. However, contrary to claims, it is not an aircraft decommissioned by the user country, but rather a surplus aircraft. C-130 aircraft continue to be used by Saudi Arabia.
5. Was the crashed aircraft old and inadequately maintained?
There are no old aircraft, but there are poorly maintained aircraft. The maintenance of the aircraft in question is regularly carried out by our country. C-130 aircraft are currently actively used in more than 70 countries.
Upon examining the maintenance history of the crashed aircraft;
-It was determined that the aircraft underwent Erciyes Avionics modernization, and that planned fuselage, engine, and propeller maintenance were carried out on time,
-It was determined that the last maintenance was performed between September 11 and October 12, 2025.
6. Is it true that the black box was brought to our country for examination?
The devices referred to as the black box of our crashed aircraft, namely the FDR (FLIGHT DATA RECORDER) and CVDR (COCKPIT VOICE DATA RECORDER), have been brought to our country for examination and have been taken for examination in Ankara.
7. Will the other C-130 aircraft in the inventory continue their flights?
The flights of our aircraft have been temporarily suspended as of November 12, 2025. After all technical inspections are completed and the checks are done, the flights of the aircraft that have completed their inspections will resume.
HOUR BY HOUR ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT
The ministry provided hour-by-hour information regarding the day of the incident.
"On November 11, our C-130E type transport aircraft with tail number 68-1609 belonging to the 12th Air Transport Main Base Command took off at 09:02 from Kayseri for the mission of transporting personnel and materials to Ganja, Azerbaijan, and landed safely in Ganja at 11:06." the statement said:
"As part of the Victory Day Events, it took off again at 13:15 with a total of 20 personnel to transfer the 10-member maintenance team and various aircraft maintenance materials for our F-16s flying in Azerbaijan.
After takeoff, at 13:50, the last radio contact was established with the Tbilisi Air Traffic Control center, and after this time, radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost. Subsequently, no response was received to calls made by the Tbilisi Air Traffic Control center.
At 14:34, information was received that our aircraft with the call sign TUAF 543 had crashed in the Azerbaijan-Georgia border south of Tbilisi for an unknown reason.
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
Upon learning of the incident, search and rescue operations were immediately initiated in coordination with the authorities of Azerbaijan and Georgia, and simultaneously, an unmanned aerial vehicle was sent to the region.
The wreckage of the plane was reached by the Georgian search and rescue teams at 15:02, and the area was secured at 17:00 for our accident investigation team to conduct their examination.
Our search and rescue and accident investigation team, which was dispatched to the area, began operations in coordination with the Georgian search and rescue teams, who quickly mobilized all their resources for the search and rescue activities at the wreckage of our downed aircraft, starting at 06:30 on November 12.
The Ministry announced that the remains of the martyrs are planned to be brought to Turkey today.
20 OF OUR SOLDIERS HAVE MARTYRED
In the downed aircraft, Air Pilot Captain Gökhan Korkmaz, Air Pilot Major Serdar Uslu, Air Pilot Major Nihat İlgen, Air Pilot Lieutenant Cüneyt Kandemir, Air Aircraft Maintenance Lieutenant Emre Mercan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Senior Master Sergeant Nuri Özcan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Senior Master Sergeant Ümit İnce, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Hamdi Armağan Kaplan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Burak Özkan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant İlker Aykut, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Akın Karakuş, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Emrah Kuran, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Ramazan Yağız, Air Aircraft Maintenance Staff Sergeant Emre Altıok, Air Aircraft Maintenance Staff Sergeant Berkay Karaca, Air Aircraft Maintenance Staff Sergeant Burak İbbiği, Air Aircraft Maintenance Staff Sergeant İlhan Ongan, Air Supply Senior Sergeant Ahmet Yasir Kuyucu, Air Transport Specialist Sergeant Cem Dolapci, and Air Transport Specialist Sergeant Emre Sayın were martyred.