Investigations are being expanded regarding the Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft, which crashed in Georgian territory resulting in the martyrdom of 20 servicemen.
According to Modern.az, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense has suspended all C-130 aircraft flights until the investigation is completed.
The Ministry stated that it is not possible to issue an official verdict on the cause of the accident at this time, and all versions are being investigated:
“As of November 12, C-130 aircraft flights have been suspended as a precautionary measure. Flights will be resumed after technical inspections are completed.”
One of the most discussed claims regarding the incident belongs to Abdülkadir Selvi, a columnist for the influential newspaper "Hürriyyət", known for his proximity to government circles. The journalist writes that the investigation is not only focused on a technical accident, but the possibility of the aircraft being shot down is also among the actively investigated versions:
“Both the possibility of an accident and being shot down are being carefully examined,” – Selvi noted.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the aircraft took off from Kayseri at 09:02 on November 11 and landed in Ganja at 11:06. At 13:15, the return flight with 20 people began. At 13:50, the last radio contact was established with the Tbilisi air traffic control center.
After this, all contact with the aircraft was lost. It was specifically emphasized that there was no ammunition on board the aircraft.
Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs stated that all fragments of the aircraft crucial for the investigation have been found, and the examination is ongoing. Approximately a thousand rescuers and relevant agencies from both countries were involved in the search.
The Minister also announced that the remains of all 20 individuals have been identified, with the last remains found overnight into Thursday.
Neither Ankara nor Tbilisi has issued a final statement regarding the cause of the incident.
