Turkish C-130 cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Ganja, Azerbaijan. The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that 20 soldiers lost their lives in the incident that occurred in Georgia yesterday, as investigators work to determine the cause of the crash.
The aircraft, which was en route from Azerbaijan to Turkey, went down in the Sighnaghi municipality of Georgia’s Kakheti region. Authorities in Ankara have yet to release an official explanation for the tragedy, which marks Turkey’s deadliest military crash since 2020. Inspections began early Wednesday morning at the crash site, where debris was scattered across a grassy hillside. Unverified social media footage suggests that the plane disintegrated mid-air before spiraling into the ground in flames.
The Turkish Defense Ministry provided a list of the 20 personnel who perished in the accident. Leaders from Azerbaijan and Georgia, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, have expressed their sympathies. Additionally, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack issued a statement of solidarity with Turkey following the crash.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the widely used C-130 Hercules—an aircraft known for its cargo, troop, and equipment transport capabilities—offered its condolences and pledged support to Turkey during the investigation. The Hercules is a four-engine turboprop aircraft capable of operating from unprepared runways, making it a versatile choice for various military missions, including assault, reconnaissance, and gunship roles. It remains a key tactical airlift asset for many armed forces worldwide.
A Turkish C-130 military cargo aircraft crashed in Georgia after departing from Azerbaijan on Tuesday, leading Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to extend condolences for “our martyrs” as rescue teams headed to the crash site. The Turkish defense ministry confirmed the incident near Georgia’s border with Azerbaijan, stating they are working closely with Georgian authorities to reach the location.
While giving a speech in Ankara, Erdogan was handed a note by his aides, and afterward, he expressed sadness over the crash. “God willing, we will get through this tragedy with minimal hardship. May God grant rest to our martyrs, and may we honor them through our prayers,” he said.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the crash or the number of casualties. Local media reports indicate that both Turkish and Azerbaijani personnel were on board, but specific figures have not been confirmed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated he had spoken with his Georgian counterpart, who was en route to the crash site.
Four U.S. Army special operations soldiers are presumed to have been killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed earlier this week during a routine training drill in a remote area near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, the Army announced Friday.
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk went down around 9 p.m. PDT on Wednesday in rugged terrain close to the base, located about 15 miles southeast of Tacoma, according to Jacqui Hill, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
All four personnel aboard the aircraft, members of the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 4th Battalion, based at Lewis-McChord, were killed in the crash. No survivors were recovered, Hill confirmed.
Known as the “Night Stalkers,” this airborne unit specializes in nighttime operations and has been a trailblazer for the Army’s dark-hour flying tactics.
“Our fallen soldiers were warriors who represented the highest ideals of the Army and Army Special Operations. Their sacrifice will always be remembered,” Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga said in a statement honoring the fallen.
Hill added that the effort to reach the crash site was hindered by the remote location, ongoing fire from the wreckage, and dense vegetation, with recovery operations ongoing on Friday.
Five U.S. soldiers were shot at Fort Stewart in Georgia on Wednesday, with the suspect now in custody, according to military officials. The injured soldiers received immediate medical attention at the scene before being moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further care, Fort Stewart posted on Facebook.
The base was placed on lockdown shortly after 11:04 a.m. local time following reports of an active shooter in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area. Fort Stewart clarified that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Law enforcement responded to the incident around 10:56 a.m. ET, and the suspect was taken into custody at approximately 11:35 a.m. ET.
The 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart urged everyone to remain indoors and to secure all windows and doors. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sadness over the day’s events via X (formerly Twitter), stating, “My family and I are deeply saddened by today’s tragedy at Fort Stewart.” He added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all servicemembers answering the call to serve. We ask all Georgians to keep them in their hearts.”
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting and is closely monitoring the situation, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Fort Stewart is located approximately 225 miles southeast of Atlanta and 40 miles southwest of Savannah.
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Worshipers gather for a mass prayer on the first day of Kurban Bayram, or Eid al-Adha, at a mosque in Batumi, Georgia on June 6, 2025. — Reuters
In the highland village of Ghorjomi, Friday prayers at the local mosque are always packed, according to Imam Tamaz Gorgadze.
Located in the remote valleys near the Turkish border, Ghorjomi and the surrounding Upper Adjara region represent a rare presence of Islam in one of the world’s most predominantly Christian countries.
“We live in Georgia, a country with multiple faiths,” Gorgadze shared with Reuters in June after the Eid ul-Adha prayers.
Georgia was the second nation to declare Christianity as its state religion around 319 AD, following nearby Armenia.
Today, it remains deeply Christian, with national identity intertwined with a long history of resistance against Muslim Persian and Turkic invasions.
In fact, some Adjara Muslims have been derogatorily labeled “Tatars,” referring to a Muslim ethnic group in Russia.
According to census figures, about 10% of Georgia’s population of 3.6 million identifies as Muslim, primarily from the mostly Shi’ite Azerbaijani community.
However, ethnically Georgian Muslims, particularly found in Adjara, are a rare and often controversial sight in a nation whose flag features five Christian crosses.
The influential Georgian Orthodox Church is regarded as a guardian of national identity, and for many, being a church member is seen as essential to being truly Georgian.
Nonetheless, the Georgian population in Upper Adjara, who converted to Islam during their time as part of the Ottoman Empire, see no contradiction in embracing both their faith and national pride.
“We take pride in being Georgian. We share a common history,” remarked Tariel Nakaidze, a local resident and the head of the Georgian Muslims Union.
Still, Nakaidze pointed out that Georgian Muslims face societal pressures reminiscent of the anti-religious campaigns during the Soviet era.
“During the Soviet period in Georgia, both Christians and Muslims had to live dual lives. You presented as an atheist to the outside world, but believed in your faith in private,” he said.
“Regrettably, after the Soviet Union fell apart, that struggle has shifted to pressures from Orthodox Christianity.”
Islam in Adjara carries distinctly Georgian characteristics. Integral to local Muslim life are the unique wooden mosques of the region.
These mosques are often protected from harsh mountain winters by corrugated iron on the exterior, while the interiors boast intricate woodwork that blends traditional Ottoman and Georgian artistic styles.
Approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from Ghorjomi lies Batumi, the capital of Adjara and Georgia’s second-largest city.
A lively seaside resort known for its casinos and nightclubs catering to mostly former Soviet tourists, Batumi’s mosques see an influx of worshippers from across the Turkish border, just 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, in addition to many tourists from the Middle East.
Due to space constraints, many congregants find themselves praying on the streets outside.
Imam Tamaz Geladze has been seeking to expand his modest mosque for years. While he has received approval from local authorities, the project remains stuck in bureaucratic red tape.
Regardless, Geladze appreciates Georgia’s history of tolerance towards religious minorities.
“We have coexisted peacefully for centuries, fostering friendships and open dialogue,” he said.
“The diversity of Georgia is a treasure,” he concluded.
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