Black box from Turkish C-130 crash in Georgia delivered to Ankara as investigation widens

Turkey’s Defense Ministry said the black box from a C-130 Hercules military transport plane that crashed in Georgia has been delivered to Ankara for investigation, as authorities continue to determine the cause of the disaster that killed 20 Turkish servicemen.

According to Yeni Şafak, all wreckage and materials collected from the crash site have been sent to Kayseri Air Base, where technical teams are analyzing flight data.

Details of the crash

The aircraft was flying from Ganja, Azerbaijan, to Merzifon, Turkey, when it disappeared from radar and broke apart mid-air over mountainous terrain near the Georgia–Azerbaijan border. The decades-old C-130 was first manufactured in 1968, previously served in Saudi Arabia’s Air Force, and was acquired by Turkey in 2010.

Ankara’s response

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said all national resources, as well as assistance from Azerbaijan and Georgia, had been mobilized for the investigation.

“We immediately contacted Georgian authorities, deployed drones and rescue teams, and located the wreckage. The black box has been found, and analysis is underway,” Erdoğan said, urging the public to trust only official information.

Joint investigation launched

Georgia’s Interior Minister Gela Geladze said a joint Turkish-Georgian investigation team had been formed and a criminal case opened under Article 275.4 of Georgia’s Criminal Code.

“We are in full coordination with Turkey. Technical and forensic analysis is ongoing,” he said.

Expert opinions

Turkish defense analysts believe a technical failure is unlikely. Retired General Erdogan Karakuş said the aircraft type, though old, remains reliable and is subject to rigorous maintenance. Others, including Kazım Dalkıran, did not rule out possible external interference or an accidental missile strike in the border zone.

Ongoing investigation

The remains of all 20 victims will be flown to Turkey aboard an A-400M aircraft. The Defense Ministry said the investigation would continue until the exact cause is determined, and findings would be made public once confirmed.

N.Tebrizli