Nöbetçi Eczaneler
A Turkish Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft disappeared from radar over Georgian airspace on November 11, just 27 minutes after taking off from Ganja Airport in Azerbaijan.
All 20 military personnel on board, including the flight crew, lost their lives in the crash.
Condolences and Support from Ally Nations
Immediately following the tragedy, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and government officials expressed condolences to Türkiye and stated their readiness to provide any necessary assistance.
In Georgia, a criminal investigation into the incident has been launched, and the crash site has been secured. Turkish and Georgian authorities are conducting a joint investigation.
Two Possible Technical Causes Considered
While official statements have been made, unverified claims continue to circulate on social media.
However, preliminary technical assessments suggest that the crash may have resulted from one of two possible causes:
1. Aircraft age and fuselage corrosion:
The C-130 involved had been in service for decades and underwent its last major maintenance in 2020. Experts are considering the possibility of structural weakening due to corrosion, a factor also seen in a similar C-130 crash in Afghanistan in 2015.
Historically, around 20 crashes involving C-130 aircraft have been recorded, including two in Türkiye, in 1968 and 1982. In 1968, a C-130 crashed near Manisa during landing.
2. Improper cargo securing:
Another possible cause is a malfunction in the cargo restraint system. If the load shifted mid-flight, it could have disrupted the aircraft’s balance and caused structural damage.
No Signs of External Interference
Officials confirmed there were no indications of external interference.
Unlike the Azerbaijan Airlines cargo aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan last year, no external damage or impact marks were found on the C-130’s fuselage.
The aircraft had remained at Ganja Airport for about two hours prior to departure, with no signs of external contact or security breach.
It was carrying F-16 maintenance personnel returning from a military parade. All pre-flight security checks were completed, and there were no explosives on board, only spare mechanical parts for the aircraft.
Black Box Recovery Underway
As the crash site lies on flat terrain, officials expect to locate the black boxes shortly.
Once recovered, the flight data will provide critical insights into the cause of the accident.
The investigation is being jointly conducted by Türkiye and Georgia, with Azerbaijan providing technical and logistical support since the first hours of the incident.