A forensic report prepared as part of an investigation into the November 2025 crash of a Turkish military C-130 cargo plane near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border that killed 20 soldiers found no evidence of external intervention, shrapnel damage or explosive residue on the wreckage, according to Turkish media reports on Friday.
The report, prepared by the gendarmerie criminal laboratory for the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, said investigators found no traces consistent with a nearby munition blast, a direct hit from ammunition or an improvised explosive device, NTV broadcaster reported. It also said no suspicious chemical substance, fuel-based fire starter or fire accelerant was found in the wreckage.
The findings undercut recent claims by Patriotic Party (VP) leader Doğu Perinçek, who said the aircraft had been brought down by Israel. Turkey’s Defense Ministry rejected that allegation this week as disinformation, said the armed forces were being targeted with baseless claims and announced legal action.
The plane crashed on November 11 after departing Azerbaijan for Turkey. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said days later that preliminary findings suggested the aircraft’s tail may have broken off before the plane split into three pieces, but he said black box analysis and initial findings would take at least two months.
Turkish media said the broader cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Air Force Command’s evaluation and inspection authorities. Technical work is continuing in Turkey and Georgia, with data being analyzed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Turkish Aerospace Industries, the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation and Air Force units.