Turkish media report that the military transport aircraft that crashed in Georgia was carrying 20 people — four crew members and 16 officers of the Turkish Air Force, including the Chief of Staff of the country’s Air Force, Ilker Aykut.
According to reports, the explosion theory has been ruled out, as the aircraft was transporting mechanical spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and did not carry any explosives. Preliminary findings also indicate no signs of external impact. Unlike the incident involving the AZAL aircraft shot down over Grozny in December 2024, no holes or traces of damage were found on the fuselage of the Turkish C-130.
Two preliminary versions of the crash are being circulated. First, the aircraft had been in operation for a long time, with its last major overhaul carried out in 2020. Therefore, the fuselage failure could have been caused by corrosion. A similar incident involving this type of aircraft was previously recorded in the United States.
The second version concerns the improper securing of the cargo: during the flight, it might have shifted, damaging the internal structures of the plane and compromising its integrity. The search for the black boxes is not expected to be difficult, as the aircraft crashed in a flat area.
The Turkish President’s Office stated that the cause of the crash is being thoroughly investigated. The investigation is being conducted jointly by Turkey and Georgia.
