(MENAFN) The presidents of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan extended their condolences to Türkiye on Tuesday following the crash of a Turkish military cargo aircraft carrying 20 personnel near the Georgia–Azerbaijan border.

According to reports, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing his sorrow over the tragic accident involving the C-130 aircraft. In a statement released by the presidential press service, Tokayev was said to have been deeply saddened by the loss of life.

"The head of state expressed his sincere condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the fraternal Turkish people," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev offered his condolences during a phone conversation with the Turkish president. "During the telephone conversation, it was noted that the relevant state institutions of Azerbaijan and Türkiye are in contact regarding the incident," said a statement by Aliyev's press service.

Aliyev reaffirmed his solidarity with those mourning the tragedy and conveyed sympathy on behalf of the Azerbaijani people, expressing his nation’s support for Türkiye during this difficult period.

Earlier in the day, a Turkish C-130 transport aircraft traveling from Azerbaijan to Türkiye crashed in Georgia.

According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the plane was carrying 20 individuals, including crew members, and search and rescue operations were immediately launched. The ministry later stated that "Georgian search and rescue teams reached the wreckage of the plane at 5 pm," confirming that the site had been secured for inspection by Türkiye’s crash investigation team.

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