Georgian leaders extend condolences to Türkiye following air force crash

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and President Mikheil Kavelashvili have expressed their condolences to Türkiye following the tragic crash of a Turkish Air Force cargo plane on Georgian soil.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to convey his heartfelt sympathies. “I conveyed my heartfelt condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the tragic crash of a Turkish Air Force cargo plane in Georgia. During this difficult time, Georgia stands in full solidarity with our Turkish friends. Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected by this tragedy,” Kobakhidze wrote on social media platform X.

President Kavelashvili also took to social media to express his grief over the incident. “We wish to express our deepest condolences and share your profound sorrow over the tragic loss of life caused by the crash of the Turkish military cargo aircraft within Georgian territory. This appalling tragedy has brought us immense grief. In these painful and difficult moments, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of the Republic of Türkiye,” he wrote.

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.