Azerbaijan offers support to Türkiye following military plane crash in Georgia

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Emergency Situations, Colonel-General Kamaladdin Heydarov, held a phone call with Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya regarding the recent crash of a Turkish Air Force C-130 transport aircraft in Georgian territory, which resulted in the deaths of several Turkish military personnel.

Heydarov expressed his condolences over the loss of life, conveyed sympathy to the families of the victims, and wished them patience during this difficult time, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani Emergencies Ministry.

The minister highlighted that, under the instructions of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s emergency rescue forces are fully prepared along the Azerbaijan-Georgia border to assist in search and rescue operations if needed. Heydarov also discussed the incident with Georgia’s Interior Minister Gela Geladze, who confirmed that Azerbaijani units would be immediately deployed to aid the rescue efforts should the situation require it.

Türkiye’s Interior Minister Yerlikaya thanked Azerbaijan for its readiness to provide support, underscoring the close cooperation between the two countries in times of crisis.

The Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border while flying from Azerbaijan to Türkiye. The crash occurred in the Signagi area, approximately five kilometres from the Georgian border. The aircraft was carrying 20 Turkish Armed Forces personnel, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.

Search and rescue operations have been launched, coordinated between Turkish, Georgian, and Azerbaijani authorities. Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has also opened an investigation into potential violations of aviation safety or operational protocols that may have contributed to the crash.

By Vugar Khalilov