Watch: Turkish Air Force F-16 crashes during mission flight, pilot killed

A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a mission flight in the early hours of Wednesday, killing the pilot.

Footage of the initial moments of the crash on the highway in Balıkesir shows the aircraft descending shortly after takeoff.



The aircraft, assigned to the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir, crashed around 00:50 (local time). Radio and radar contact were lost shortly after takeoff, and search-and-rescue teams later confirmed the crash and located the wreckage, as cited by the Express UK.




“One of our F-16 aircraft belonging to the squadron of the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base Command crashed during a mission flight around 00:50, and one of our pilots has been martyred. I pray to God for mercy on our martyr and extend my condolences to his family. May our beloved nation be strong," Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said through a post on X.

Justice minister Akın Gürlek said the Balıkesir Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the crash.

In a post on X, Gürlek said: “An F-16 aircraft belonging to the squadron of the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir crashed during a mission flight, and one of our heroic pilots has been martyred. The Balıkesir Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation into the incident, and our prosecutor, deputy prosecutor, and two prosecutors have gone to the crash site. I pray to God for mercy on our martyr and extend my condolences to his grieving family and loved ones. I wish patience and fortitude to the Turkish Armed Forces. May our beloved nation be strong.”

The cause of the crash is under investigation, with no immediate information on possible technical failures or other contributing factors.

The Istanbul–Izmir Motorway spans 426 kilometres, including 384 kilometres of motorway and 42 kilometres of connecting roads.

The full route was opened to traffic on August 4, 2019, following the phased completion of its sections.