Turkish official urges caution: Stick to verified info after C-130 crash

Burhantettin Duran, Communications Director for the President of Türkiye, addressed the public following the crash of a Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Speaking to the Turkish media, Duran emphasised the urgency of relying on verified information during ongoing rescue operations. He said:

"Following the crash of the military transport plane on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border earlier today, search and rescue operations were immediately launched. To ensure the accuracy of public information, it is extremely important to rely only on official statements from our agencies and not to spread unconfirmed information. We respectfully convey this to the public."

The crash occurred in the Signagi area, approximately five kilometres from the Georgian state border, while the plane was flying from Azerbaijan to Türkiye. Turkish authorities confirmed the aircraft belonged to the Turkish Armed Forces.

Search and rescue operations were immediately coordinated with Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed the deployment of emergency teams to the crash site to provide assistance and assess the situation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier commented on the tragedy, expressing his deep sorrow and confirming that the country was working closely with Baku and Tbilisi on the ongoing rescue efforts. He noted: "We are in close coordination with the authorities of both countries regarding the search and rescue operations. I hope the human toll from this incident will be minimal."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia also announced that an investigation into potential violations of aviation safety rules or operational protocols, which may have led to casualties, has been launched. Authorities have pledged to provide updates to the public as the investigation progresses.

By Tamilla Hasanova