Azerbaijani president offers condolences to Turkish counterpart following fatal plane crash

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has extended condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following a tragic military accident.

In his letter, President Aliyev expressed deep sympathy over the loss of life caused by the crash of a Turkish Air Force cargo plane on Georgian soil, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“We were deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of servicemen in the crash of a Turkish Air Force military cargo plane, which took off from Ganja and crashed in Georgian territory.

In this moment of sorrow, I share your grief and, on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, extend heartfelt condolences to You, the families and loved ones of the deceased, and the fraternal people of Türkiye,” Aliyev wrote in the letter.

According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defence, a C-130 military cargo plane, departing from Azerbaijan for Türkiye, crashed near the Georgia–Azerbaijan border.

“A C130 military cargo plane belonging to Türkiye, which departed from Azerbaijan for our country, crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border,” says the statement.

“Search and rescue operations have begun in coordination with Georgian authorities,” the statement added.

By Vafa Guliyeva