Sakaeronavigatsia has released a statement regarding the crash of a Turkish military aircraft on Georgian territory.

According to the statement, the airport in Ganja, Azerbaijan, from which the Turkish plane took off, has already been notified about the incident, and the Turkish side has also been informed.

“Sakaeronavigatsia” reports that search and rescue operations are underway in full compliance with aviation regulations.

“Based on information received from the emergency number 112, the Aviation Search and Rescue Coordination Center of Sakaeronavigatsia LLC was informed that a Turkish military aircraft had experienced an aviation incident on Georgian territory, near the border with Azerbaijan.
In full accordance with international protocol, the search and rescue team of Sakaeronavigatsia departed for the presumed crash site to locate the aircraft and assist possible victims.

A few minutes after entering Georgian airspace, the Turkish C-130 aircraft disappeared from the radars of the Georgian Civil Aviation Administration without transmitting an alarm signal. Immediately afterwards, the Georgian Civil Aviation Administration initiated search and rescue procedures.

The airport in Ganja, Azerbaijan — the aircraft’s departure point — has been informed of the incident, as has the Turkish side.

At present, search and rescue efforts are ongoing, coordinated with relevant Georgian agencies,” the statement reads.

A Turkish military aircraft crashed in the Signagi Municipality, approximately five kilometres from Georgia’s state border on November 11. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports, citing preliminary information, that the aircraft was operating a flight from Azerbaijan to Türkiye.