Türkiye Bids Farewell to Soldiers Killed in Plane Crash

A solemn send-off ceremony was held on Friday at the Murted Air Base Command in Ankara for the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in the recent military plane crash, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu.

The Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft went down near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border on Nov. 11, causing the deaths of all 20 personnel on board.

The ceremony included a moment of silence, a recitation from the Holy Quran and prayers for the fallen soldiers.

After the reading of their service identifications, the soldiers' coffins were carried to military aircraft to be transported to their hometowns for burial.

The ceremony was attended by parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, lawmakers, senior commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces, Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin, Azerbaijan Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Namig Islamzade, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ankara Reshad Mammadov, and the families of the soldiers.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his condolences to the families of the soldiers, expressing his deep sorrow over the tragic loss and extending his prayers.