A Turkish Air Force C-130 military transport plane crashed in Georgia on Thursday shortly after taking off from Azerbaijan, according to officials from Turkey’s Ministry of Defense. The aircraft, which had been en route back to Turkey, went down near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border under still-unclear circumstances.  

Dramatic video circulating online shows the cargo plane spiraling uncontrollably in the sky, with smoke trailing from both engines before it plunged to the ground. The footage suggests a possible simultaneous engine failure — a rare occurrence in the C-130 series, widely regarded as one of the most dependable military transport aircraft in the world.  

Turkey’s defense ministry confirmed that the plane had departed Azerbaijan earlier in the day and lost control shortly after entering Georgian airspace. Search and rescue operations are now underway in coordination with Georgian authorities. As of the latest reports, no casualties have been officially confirmed, though recovery teams are continuing to assess the crash site.  

The incident comes at a sensitive time for the Turkish military, which remains active in multiple regional operations and joint exercises. Analysts note that an accident involving a trusted workhorse like the C-130 raises serious questions about maintenance protocols, flight safety, or possible mechanical failure.  

The C-130 platform, used by NATO allies and numerous defense forces worldwide, is known for its rugged design and reliability. A simultaneous dual-engine malfunction is extraordinarily rare, prompting a full technical investigation by Turkish and Georgian authorities.  

While the cause remains undetermined, early indications point toward catastrophic mechanical failure rather than hostile action. Turkish officials have urged the public to await official findings as recovery efforts continue near the remote border region.  

For now, the crash serves as a sobering reminder of the risks faced daily by military crews, even outside of combat zones, as they carry out strategic missions across unstable regions.