Tragedy Strikes Turkey: Names of 20 Military Personnel Killed in Cargo Plane Crash in Georgia

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TURKEY — Nov. 12, 2025

A Turkish C-130 cargo plane carrying 20 military personnel, including the flight crew, crashed in Georgia after taking off from Azerbaijan en route to Turkey. While the cause of the crash remains undetermined, the nation mourns as the tragic news of the fallen military personnel has reached their families across the country.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MSB) confirmed that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) C-130 cargo plane, carrying 20 personnel including the flight crew, crashed in Georgia after taking off from Azerbaijan.

The plane initially took off from Turkey at 9:50 AM, landed in Ganja, Azerbaijan, at 11:06 AM, and took off for Turkey at 1:20 PM. It disappeared from radar 27 minutes after takeoff.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that the wreckage of the military cargo plane was reached at 5:00 PM. The area surrounding the wreckage, which local sources say was scattered across steep slopes near the Xolagiri Monastery, has been cordoned off by security forces. Search and rescue teams faced difficulties due to the rugged terrain and poor weather conditions.

Nine Victims Based in Kayseri

It was confirmed that nine personnel aboard the plane were stationed at the 12th Air Transportation Main Base Command in Kayseri.

The names of the personnel killed in the crash were announced as follows:

• Air Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Gökhan Korkmaz (Istanbul)

• Air Pilot Major Serdar Uslu (Kayseri/Bursa)

• Air Pilot Major Nihat İlgen (Kayseri)

• Air Pilot First Lieutenant Cüneyt Kandemir (Kayseri)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Nuri Özcan (Kayseri/Karabük)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Ümit İnce (Kayseri)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Burak Özkan (Kayseri)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Emrah Kuran (Kayseri/Muğla)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Emre Altıok (Kayseri/Samsun)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Burak İbbiği (Kayseri/Çorum)

• Air Maintenance Technical Sergeant İlhan Ongan (Bilecik)

• Air Maintenance Technical Sergeant Berkay Karaca (Lüleburgaz)

• Air Supply Technical Sergeant Ahmet Yasir Kuyucu (Konya)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Akın Karakuş (Sakarya)

• Air Specialist Sergeant Emre Sayın (Balıkesir)

• Air Maintenance Sergeant Major Ramazan Yavuz (Bursa)

• Air Specialist Sergeant Emre Sayın (Balıkesir)

The grim news reached the families of the fallen in provinces across Turkey, including Bilecik, Karabük, Istanbul, Eskişehir, Tekirdağ, Muğla, Konya, Sakarya, Çorum, Samsun, and Balıkesir. Turkish flags were raised at the residences, and officials conveyed the tragic news.

The Ministry of National Defense stated that the detailed examination by the accident investigation team would determine the cause of the plane crash.

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