Nineteen service members of Turkey were confirmed dead after a military cargo plane crashed near the border separating Georgia and Azerbaijan; search efforts for one remaining victim continue, Anadolu Agency reported.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the aircraft’s black box has been recovered and a full investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. He told provincial leaders of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara that work at the remote crash site is being closely tracked and “every aspect of the incident” will be examined.
Erdogan said all three countries have sent resources to the scene, and that regular public updates will continue from the National Defense Ministry and the Communications Directorate. He urged citizens to be cautious about the spread of false information and warned against those who may seek to politically exploit this tragedy.
The president read the names of the fallen personnel, offering prayers for them, while extending condolences to their families and the Turkish Armed Forces, along with the wider nation. Anadolu Agency reported.
According to the report, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan quickly coordinated with their respective counterparts following the crash to launch search and rescue operations backed by unmanned aerial vehicles. A 46-member crash investigation team has been sent to the cordoned-off area.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said search, rescue and accident investigation teams remain on the ground and that the remains of the victims will be flown back to Türkiye in an A-400M transport plane. He thanked Georgian authorities for their rapid cooperation and promised that developments related to the incident will continue to be shared with the public, Anadolu Agency said.
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