The 20 heroic soldiers who were martyred in the crash of a C-130 military cargo aircraft on the Azerbaijan–Georgia border on 11 November 2025 were laid to rest with an emotional ceremony in Ankara. The ceremony, held at Mürted Airfield Command, concluded with the martyrs being sent to their hometowns with prayers.
Ceremony Details
The ceremony began with a moment of silence, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. Prayers were offered by Deputy President of Religious Affairs Hafız Osman Şahin, asking for God’s mercy upon the martyrs. The coffins of the martyrs, draped in the Turkish flag, were carried by their comrades to military aircraft and sent to the cities where their families reside.
State Officials and Guests Who Attended the Ceremony
The highest levels of the state and the military command echelon attended the ceremony in full. Among the attendees were:
- Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmuş
- Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler
- Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş
- Turkish Armed Forces Command Echelon
- Governor of Ankara Vasip Şahin
- Commander of the Azerbaijan Air Force Major General Namig Islamzade
- Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ankara Reshad Mammadov
The grieving families and relatives of the martyred soldiers were also present.
Names of Our Martyred Soldiers
Air Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Gökhan Korkmaz, Air Pilot Major Serdar Uslu, Air Pilot Major Nihat İlgen, Air Pilot First Lieutenant Cüneyt Kandemir, Air Aircraft Maintenance First Lieutenant Emre Mercan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Chief NCO Nuri Özcan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Chief NCO Ümit İnce, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Hamdi Armağan Kaplan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Burak Özkan, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant İlker Aykut, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Akın Karakuş, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Emrah Kuran, Air Aircraft Maintenance Master Sergeant Ramazan Yağız, Air Aircraft Maintenance Sergeant Emre Altıok, Air Aircraft Maintenance Sergeant Berkay Karaca, Air Aircraft Maintenance Sergeant Burak İbbiği, Air Aircraft Maintenance Sergeant İlhan Ongan, Air Supply Master Sergeant Ahmet Yasir Kuyucu, Air Transportation Specialist Sergeant Cem Dolapci, Air Transportation Specialist Sergeant Emre Sayın.
Official Statements on the Accident
Ammunition status: The aircraft carried only personnel and maintenance materials, no ammunition.
Cause of the accident: Not yet clear; it will be announced after the investigation team completes its work.
- Radar records: Belong to the Georgian search-and-rescue helicopter dispatched to the area.
- Aircraft status: The C-130 with tail number 68-1609 was added to the inventory in 2012, modernised, and had been in active service since 2022. It was not “out of use”; its modernisation and maintenance were completed.
- Maintenance history: Erciyes Avionics modernisation had been applied; its last periodic maintenance was completed between 11 September and 12 October 2024.
- Black box: The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were recovered and transported to Ankara for examination.
- C-130 flights: Suspended as of 12 November 2024 as a precaution; flights will resume once technical inspections are completed.
The Nation’s Gratitude
Our nation is forever grateful to its 20 heroic sons who attained martyrdom in service to their homeland. May their souls rest in peace and their places be heaven.
