A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff in the western province of Balıkesir early Wednesday, killing the pilot, according to Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence.
The aircraft took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir at approximately 12:56 a.m. local time (21:56 GMT Tuesday). Radio and radar contact with the pilot was lost shortly afterward.
The jet came down near the Izmir-Istanbul highway in the Karesi district specifically around the Naifli/Naipli area scattering debris across a wide zone, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu.
Emergency teams responded quickly, and authorities temporarily shut down the affected section of the highway to clear wreckage and ensure safety.
The pilot was identified as Air Force Major İbrahim Bolat, who was confirmed martyred in the incident. Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, expressed condolences and announced that a formal investigation by a crash examination team is underway to determine the cause.
