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The Turkish Defense Ministry on Wednesday released the identities of the soldiers who were killed in the military cargo plane crash that occurred near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border.
A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane carrying 20 military personnel crashed on Tuesday shortly after departing from Azerbaijan on its way to Türkiye.
According to a statement posted on the ministry’s social media account, the fallen soldiers include Air Pilot Lt. Col. Gokhan Korkmaz, Air Pilot Maj. Serdar Uslu, Air Pilot Maj. Nihat Ilgen, and Air Pilot Lt. Cuneyt Kandemir. The statement also named Aircraft Maintenance Lt. Emre Mercan, Senior Master Sgts. Nuri Ozcan and Umit Ince, Master Sgts. Hamdi Armagan Kaplan, Burak Ozkan, Ilker Aykut, Akin Karakus, Emrah Kuran, and Ramazan Yagiz, as well as Tech. Sgts. Emre Altiok, Berkay Karaca, Burak Ibbigi, and Ilhan Ongan. Others identified were Supply Sgt. 1st Class Ahmet Yasir Kuyucu and Air Transport Specialist Sgts. Cem Dolapci and Emre Sayin.
Defense Minister Yasar Guler issued a condolence message, saying:
“Our heroic comrades-in-arms were martyred on Nov. 11, 2025, after our C-130 military cargo plane, which took off from Azerbaijan en route to our country, crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border."
"I wish Allah’s mercy upon our heroic martyrs and extend my condolences and patience to their grieving families and our noble nation on behalf of myself and all members of the Ministry of National Defense.”
The Defense Ministry also announced that search, rescue, and crash investigation teams have begun examinations at the wreckage site of the aircraft.
“In coordination with Georgian authorities, search, rescue, and crash investigation teams began their examinations at 06:30 at the wreckage of our military cargo plane that crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border,” the ministry said in a statement.
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