Turkey F-16 Down: A major accident has occurred in the Balıkesir region of Turkey. The Turkish Defense Ministry has confirmed that an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet of the Turkish Air Force crashed there. Following the accident, a massive explosion occurred, and the plane burst into flames. The pilot was killed in the accident.
Add informalnewz.com as a Preferred Source
Turkey F-16 Down: A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed late Monday night in the western Turkish city of Balikesir. The pilot died in the accident. According to officials, the incident occurred near the Bursa-Izmir highway, prompting immediate emergency services. According to media reports, ambulances and several police vehicles arrived at the scene upon receiving information about the crash.
Videos of the F-16 surfaced on social media showing debris scattered at the crash site, and people gathered nearby. The entire area has been cordoned off, and an investigation is underway.
A video taken just moments after the crash of a Turkish F-16 near Balıkesir tonight, with a fireball rising over the road due to impact. https://t.co/xViSSvFI45 pic.twitter.com/pvoR9e5ghp
— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) February 25, 2026
The fighter jet reportedly belonged to the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balikesir. The plane crashed at around 1 a.m. local time while in flight. Radio contact and radar tracking were suddenly lost, prompting a search for the aircraft.
A search operation located the crash site and recovered debris. The pilot died in the accident. The Turkish Defense Ministry said in an official statement that a special investigation team has been formed to determine the cause of the crash, and that the truth will be revealed only after a thorough investigation. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek also stated that a formal investigation has been launched. The government statement paid tribute to the pilot, calling him a martyr. At present, no official conclusion has been reached regarding the cause of the crash.
When did the F-16 crash?
- The F-16 also experienced technical problems during training flights between 2015 and 2024.
- In 2019, an F-16 crashed during a parade practice near Islamabad, killing the pilot.
- In 2015, a Greek F-16 crashed at Albacete Air Base in Spain, killing several people.
- In 2023, an F-16 crashed in the Ionian Sea, with the pilot missing.
- Separate F-16 accidents in South Korea during training between 2022 and 2024.
