A F-16 fighter jet of the Turkish Air Force crashed near a highway in western Türkiye early on Wednesday (25 February), killing its pilot, officials and media reports confirmed.
The jet lost radio and radar contact shortly after midnight following take-off from the 9th Main Jet Base in Balıkesir province, the Ministry of Defence said. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, and the wreckage was soon located. The pilot, Major İbrahim Bolat, was confirmed killed.
“The aircraft lost contact at 00:56 and the wreckage has been located. Our heroic pilot has been martyred,” the ministry said, adding that an investigation would be conducted by an accident inquiry team.
The jet came down near the Istanbul-Izmir highway, scattering debris over a wide area, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Security forces, firefighters, and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Traffic on the section of the highway near Karesi district’s Naipli area was temporarily closed while authorities worked at the site.
Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu visited the scene, confirming the crash occurred shortly after take-off and offering condolences.
“One of our pilots has been martyred. May God have mercy on our hero and bring patience to his family and our nation,” he said.
The Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, confirmed that the Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had opened an investigation. The ministry noted that the crash site had been examined by prosecutors, and accident inquiry teams were on site to determine the cause.
Minister of Defence Yaşar Güler paid tribute to Major Bolat, stating: “Our heroic comrade, Air Pilot Major İbrahim Bolat, was martyred as a result of the F-16 crash on 25 February 2026. May God have mercy on our hero; we extend condolences to his family and our Turkish Armed Forces. Our nation mourns him.”
Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, also offered his condolences to the pilot’s family and the nation, describing Major Bolat as a “heroic pilot.”
The Ministry of Interior said the incident was being closely monitored in coordination with all relevant agencies.
“The cause of the accident will be clarified following a technical investigation by the relevant crash inquiry team. We express our condolences to the family of our heroic pilot, to our armed forces, and to our nation,” the ministry said.
At this stage, no details have been released regarding the cause of the crash.
Iran will immediately reciprocate if the U.S. returns to its commitments under an interim deal signed in June, Pre...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are gathering in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the...
Israel and Greece have signed a €3 billion defence agreement that will see Israel build a new multi-layered air-defence system for Greece....
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
As leaders from across Eurasia gather in Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the meeting is bringing together countries with very different interests, from China and Russia to India, Iran and Azerbaijan.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are gathering in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled that India remains bound by the Indus Waters Treaty and must continue to comply with its obligations under the decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, despite New Delhi's decision last year to place the treaty "in abeyance".
At least 11 people, including eight children, have been killed after a powerful explosion at a firecracker factory in northern India, authorities said, with rescue teams continuing to search through debris amid fears the toll could rise.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Qatar has discussed potential investment in Afghanistan’s oil and gas sectors and the construction of a crude oil refinery, during talks in Kabul as Gulf businesses show growing interest in the Afghan market.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment