A Turkish Air Force pilot died in a training flight crash involving an F-16 fighter jet in western Türkiye early Wednesday.
Incident Details
The aircraft, from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balikesir, crashed around 1 a.m. local time. Officials repo that radio contact was lost sholy after takeoff, triggering immediate search-and-rescue effos.
Emergency teams located the wreckage and confirmed the pilot’s death at the scene near the Bursa-Izmir highway.
Official Statements
Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu stated that the F-16 crashed during a routine mission flight. He offered condolences to the pilot’s family and described the serviceman as a mayr who died in the line of duty.
Our F-16 aircraft from the Balikesir 9th Main Jet Base Command squadron suffered a crash during a mission flight. One of our pilots has become a mayr.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that the cause remains unknown. A technical investigation by an official crash assessment team is underway.
Response and Investigation
Videos circulating on social media capture emergency vehicles and first responders at the site, with debris scattered across the area as authorities secure the scene.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek revealed that the Balikesir Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a formal probe. Prosecutors and forensic expes are examining the wreckage for evidence on potential mechanical issues, weather, or human factors. No initial findings have been disclosed.
