Key facts
- A Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training mission in Balikesir province.
- The pilot, identified as Major Ibrahim Bolat, was killed in the crash.
- The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff.
- The Turkish Defense Ministry is investigating the cause of the accident.
- The crash temporarily closed a section of the Istanbul-Izmir highway.
A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off for a mission in Balikesir province, resulting in the death of the pilot, Major Ibrahim Bolat. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, with authorities losing radio and radar contact with the aircraft soon after departure. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage, which was dispersed over a large area near the Istanbul-İzmir motorway, leading to a temporary closure of the highway. The Turkish Defense Ministry stated that an investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident, and the Balikesir prosecutor's office is also launching its own inquiry. Turkey has operated F-16 fighter jets since the early 1980s and maintains a fleet of over 230 aircraft.