A Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules cargo plane crashed close to the Georgia-Azerbaijan border on November 11, 2025. The aircraft took off from Azerbaijan and was en route to Turkey with 20 people on board.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed the crash, stating:
“A C-130 military cargo plane departing from Azerbaijan to Turkey crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. Search and rescue efforts have been initiated in coordination with Azerbaijani and Georgian authorities.”
Georgian officials reported that the aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after entering Georgian airspace and did not issue a distress call.
Evidence indicates the plane was flight #TUAF543, which departed Ganja Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC. Video circulating on social media shows the aircraft breaking apart mid-air before crashing. The fuselage disintegrated, with the front section separating, while the wing section spun down and exploded on impact. The tail section was not visible in the footage.
“The C-130 disappeared from radar a few minutes after entering Georgian airspace, without issuing any distress signal.” — Georgian authorities
Video clips posted online depict the aircraft breaking apart before impact, highlighting the severity of the crash and the destruction of the fuselage.
Author's summary: A Turkish military cargo plane crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border without distress signals, prompting multinational rescue efforts amid video evidence of mid-air breakup.