(MENAFN) Search and rescue units have arrived at the site of a Turkish military cargo plane that went down on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border, according to Türkiye’s communications director on Tuesday.

“From the first moment, our President has been receiving real-time updates on the search and rescue operations and closely following the efforts.

He has also held talks with officials in both Georgia and Azerbaijan,” Burhanettin Duran wrote on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

Duran stated that the teams had implemented all necessary safety precautions and were conducting operations with great caution, adding that investigations into the crash's cause will be carried out thoroughly.

He conveyed profound grief over the deaths of Turkish soldiers in the incident, noting that their loss has plunged the nation into mourning.

Offering his sympathies, Duran said: “May Allah have mercy on our heroic soldiers who became martyrs, and I wish patience to their families and loved ones. Our nation shares in this deep sorrow.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a Turkish C-130 military cargo aircraft traveling from Azerbaijan crashed in Georgia.

The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that the plane was transporting 20 individuals, including the flight crew, and that search and rescue operations were underway.

The ministry later confirmed that "Georgian search and rescue teams reached the wreckage of the plane at 5 pm," noting that the site has been secured for examination by Türkiye's crash investigation team.

MENAFN12112025000045017167ID1110332002