Turkish Air Force major dies in F-16 fighter jet crash near Balıkesir

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A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Balıkesir overnight on Wednesday, killing the pilot.

The aircraft took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir at around 1 am Wednesday (11 pm CET Tuesday). Radio contact and radar tracking were lost shortly after departure, Turkey’s National Defence Ministry said.

Search and rescue operations located the wreckage near the Istanbul-İzmir motorway. The pilot, Air Force Major İbrahim Bolat, was killed in the crash.

“Our pilot was killed. The cause of the accident will be determined following an investigation by the crash examination team,” the ministry said in a statement, offering condolences to Bolat’s family.

Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said the aircraft crashed during a mission flight. “I wish God’s mercy to our martyr and condolences to his relatives,” he said on social media.

Debris from the crash scattered across a wide area near the motorway, according to Turkish media reports. Security forces, firefighters and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. The Istanbul-İzmir motorway was temporarily closed.

A military ceremony in honour of Bolat was held at the 9th Main Jet Base, where two F-16s performed a tribute flypast. Bolat’s wife and daughter attended the ceremony.

Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the crash. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the chief public prosecutor, a deputy chief public prosecutor and two public prosecutors arrived at the scene.

“Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has started an investigation into the incident,” Gürlek said.

Turkey suspended flights of its C-130 cargo planes in November after one crashed in neighbouring Georgia while returning from Azerbaijan, killing all 20 people aboard.