Category: Azer News

UPDATED

00:09

The aircraft remained at Ganja Airport for roughly two hours
before departure, according to exclusive information obtained by
“AnewZ”. During this time, the crew carried out necessary technical
maintenance and pre-flight preparations near the aircraft. The
report says no third parties were allowed into the area, and all
security protocols were reportedly followed.

The aircraft was transporting members of the Turkish Air Force
who had provided support to the F-16 fighter jets taking part in
the Victory Day military parade in Baku on 8 November, along with
mechanical spare parts for those aircraft. Sources confirm that
there were no explosives on board, and no signs of external
interference or detonation were found in the debris. The same
conclusion is supported by video footage circulating online showing
the moment the aircraft fell, which displays no evidence of an
explosion.

Besides, investigators are considering two primary possible
causes of the crash:

The first relates to the age of the aircraft, which had been in
service for more than 50 years and had last undergone major
maintenance in 2020. Experts note that corrosion or metal fatigue
could have caused a structural failure during flight, similar to
the 2017 crash of a US Marine Corps KC-130, which broke apart in
mid-air after the failure of a propeller blade.

The second possibility concerns the loading process. In
transport aircraft, improperly secured cargo can shift during
flight, disrupting balance and causing vibration, which may damage
the fuselage and lead to structural failure.

Sources told the local media outlets that the aircraft’s black
box was recovered from the crash site. The device will be sent for
decoding, and the findings will be made public once the analysis is
completed. Officials from Türkiye, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are said
to be working closely to identify the precise cause of the
incident.

Investigators have so far found no evidence of an explosion or
sabotage, and initial assessments point to a technical or
mechanical failure. Conclusions will be announced after the flight
recorder data is analysed and the joint investigation report is
published.

—

16:54

The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that a C-130
cargo aircraft flying from Azerbaijan to Türkiye has crashed in
Georgia. Search and rescue operations have begun in coordination
with the Georgian authorities.

On President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions, Prime Minister Ali
Asadov contacted the Georgian Prime Minister regarding the crash of
the Turkish aircraft.
Prime Minister Ali Asadov stated that Azerbaijan is ready to
provide all necessary support for eliminating the consequences of
the crash, conducting search and rescue operations, deploying the
relevant personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of
Azerbaijan to the area, and taking any other required measures.

President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye is working in coordination
with Georgia to locate the remains of the crashed military
transport aircraft.

The soldiers on board were those who had participated in the
parade held in Baku. They were returning to Istanbul.

Military channels report that an American C-130J-30 aircraft was
flying near Tbilisi. It was accompanied by an unidentified drone
and a helicopter. They reportedly remained in the air for about 40
minutes.

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The final bouts of the boxing competitions at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games were held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to Azernews, Azerbaijani boxer Saidjamshid Jafarov (80 kg) defeated Sultan Osmanli of Turkiye in the final match, claiming the gold medal.

Another member of the Azerbaijani national team, Mahammadali Gasimzade (60 kg), faced Madiyar Daniyarov of Uzbekistan in the final. Gasimzade took the silver medal after losing to his Uzbek opponent.

In the women’s category, Aynur Mikayilova (57 kg) was defeated by Khumorabonu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan, earning a silver medal. Azerbaijani boxer Nargiz Zeynalova (54 kg) also finished in second place, adding another silver to the team’s tally.

An explosion rocked the Pakistani capital Islamabad, killing at least 12 people and injuring 20 others, according to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Azernews reports, citing local media.

The blast reportedly occurred in a parking area near the Supreme Court, with some sources suggesting it may have been a suicide attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident, and authorities continue to investigate.

Tourism has long stood as a cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s economic diversification strategy, serving both as a vital non-oil revenue source and as a platform to showcase the nation’s cultural, historical, and natural wealth. In recent years, the government has elevated sustainable tourism to the forefront of national development policy – viewing it not merely as an economic sector but as an instrument for regional revitalization, employment generation, and cultural diplomacy.

Yet, recent figures suggest that the sector is undergoing a phase of recalibration amid changing regional dynamics. Between January and September 2025, Azerbaijan hosted 230,650 tourists from Middle Eastern countries, marking a 13.4% decline compared to the same period last year. The largest share of arrivals came from Saudi Arabia with 86,882 visitors, representing an 11.4% decrease, followed by Israel (44,147, +52.5%), and the United Arab Emirates (31,785, -31.9%). Declines were also registered from Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt – countries traditionally among Azerbaijan’s strongest source markets.

The mixed results across the Middle East point to broader trends. Analysts link these fluctuations to evolving travel preferences, currency depreciation in several Gulf states, and shifting airline connectivity patterns. Still, Azerbaijan’s growing visibility in markets such as Israel and Jordan underscores that effective destination branding and targeted marketing campaigns can yield tangible results even amid regional volatility.

A similar trend is visible in European arrivals. During the same period, 167,740 European tourists visited Azerbaijan – a 21.7% year-on-year decrease. Visitor numbers from both Eastern Europe (-21.5%) and Western Europe (-21.8%) declined, with notable drops from traditional source markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France. Analysts suggest that this downturn mirrors broader post-pandemic travel slowdowns across the region, compounded by economic pressures and competition from Mediterranean destinations offering budget-friendly options.

Despite these short-term contractions, Azerbaijan’s tourism potential remains immense – and the long-term strategic horizon is shifting eastward and inward. Following the 2020 Patriotic War and the liberation of Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur, the government has identified tourism as a pillar of reconstruction and reintegration. Beyond economic diversification, the development of the liberated territories is tied to a deeper national objective: transforming previously isolated regions into vibrant centers of culture, heritage, and sustainable growth.

For decades, the occupation had stifled the economic and touristic vitality of these areas. Destroyed infrastructure, security concerns, and limited accessibility prevented investment and development. Now, with peace restored and reconstruction underway, the state envisions turning Garabagh and its surrounding districts into a new tourism frontier – one that integrates natural beauty, history, and agricultural abundance into a unified model of sustainable regional development.

The State Tourism Agency has already initiated assessments for agrotourism and eco-tourism opportunities across the liberated territories. Officials note that the region’s fertile lands, favorable climate, and diverse cultural heritage create the perfect foundation for rural tourism experiences that connect local production with visitor engagement. Such efforts align with the government’s broader ‘smart village’ and ‘green energy’ programs, aiming to make Garabagh not just a symbol of national revival, but also a model of environmentally responsible growth.

Strategically, Azerbaijan’s integration of the liberated territories into the national economy is reinforced by new transport projects – particularly the Zangezur Corridor – which will enhance regional connectivity and cross-border mobility. As infrastructure expands, the accessibility of new tourist zones will improve, positioning Azerbaijan as a leading travel hub in the South Caucasus and along the Middle Corridor linking Europe and Asia.

In essence, while short-term statistical declines may raise concerns, they do not necessarily indicate a structural weakness. Rather, they reflect a sector in transition – recalibrating to global economic realities while preparing for a long-term expansion rooted in post-conflict development, sustainability, and innovation.

Azerbaijan’s tourism future, therefore, lies not only in attracting more visitors but in building a diversified, resilient, and experience-driven industry that mirrors the country’s broader ambitions as a dynamic and forward-looking economy.