The first findings regarding the critical examinations of the Turkish Armed Forces’ C-130 military transport aircraft, which crashed on 11 November near the Azerbaijan–Georgia border, have emerged. According to a statement by the Ministry of National Defence (MSB), the aircraft’s flight recorder was opened at the TUSAŞ facilities and the analysis process has begun. In the initial report prepared by the Gendarmerie Criminal Laboratory, it was determined that “no trace of explosives was found” in the incident.
MSB: “Do not rely on information other than our official statements”
The MSB shared the following information regarding the technical work carried out following the crash:
“The examination of the flight recorder of our military cargo aircraft at the TUSAŞ facilities and the work of our crash investigation team at the crash site are continuing. The wreckage of the aircraft will be examined in detail at the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate in Kayseri. Detailed examination results will be shared with the public. It is important not to rely on any news or commentary other than our official statements.”
Following the statement, the report prepared by the Gendarmerie Criminal Laboratory also reached the public, clearly stating that no findings related to explosives were detected.
Flight recorder analysis ongoing
The flight recorder of the C-130 consists of two sections: the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Officials state that the technical data within the device will play a critical role in determining the exact cause of the crash.
The flight recorder logs:
- The aircraft’s speed
- Altitude
- Engine performance
- Cockpit conversations
- Sounds from warning systems
serving as the main reference source in crash investigations.
20 servicemen had been martyred
The C-130E military transport aircraft, tail number 68-1609, affiliated with the 12th Air Transport Main Base Command, took off from Azerbaijan’s Ganja city at 13:15 on 11 November 2025; the aircraft disappeared from radar at 14:34 and crashed near the Georgia–Azerbaijan border.
In the crash, 20 servicemen were martyred, and a joint team consisting of officials from Türkiye, Georgia, and Azerbaijan launched a comprehensive investigation in the area.
The exact cause of the crash will be announced after the completion of the flight recorder analyses and the ongoing technical examinations in Kayseri.
