A Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff early Wednesday in western Balikesir province, killing its pilot, Turkish authorities confirmed.

The aircraft lost radio contact and tracking information minutes after departure, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.

According to a statement by Turkey’s National Defense Ministry, the F-16 took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balikesir at 12:56am local time (9:56pm GMT Tuesday).

Shortly after departure, radio contact and tracking data were lost. The ministry said the wreckage was later located following a rapid search and rescue effort.

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

9’uncu Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı-Balıkesir’den kalkış yapan bir F-16 uçağımız ile 00.56’dan itibaren telsiz irtibatı ve iz bilgisi kesilmiştir.

Derhâl başlatılan arama kurtarma çalışmaları sonucunda uçağımızın kaza kırıma uğradığı tespit edilmiş ve uçağımızın enkazına ulaşılmıştır.…
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) February 24, 2026

National Defense Minister Yasar Guler identified the fallen pilot as Air Force Major Ibrahim Bolat. “Our heroic comrade-in-arms was martyred on Feb. 25, 2026, as a result of the crash of our F-16 aircraft,” Guler said in a condolence message.

Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu confirmed that the aircraft, belonging to the 9th Main Jet Base Command squadron, crashed at around 12:50am during a mission flight.

Judicial, administrative investigations launched

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that the Balikesir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an official investigation into the crash. The chief public prosecutor, deputy chief public prosecutor and two public prosecutors arrived at the scene to oversee proceedings, Gurlek said.

The Interior Ministry stated it is closely monitoring the situation in full coordination with relevant institutions. “The cause of the crash will become clear following the technical examination by the relevant crash investigation team,” the ministry added.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said the incident would be “meticulously examined both judicially and administratively.”

Condolences from senior officials

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala, and other senior officials expressed their condolences.

“Our condolences to our heroic pilot, who was martyred, to his family, his loved ones, and our noble nation,” Kurtulmus said.

The crash comes months after Turkey suspended flights of its C-130 cargo planes in November, when one aircraft crashed in neighboring Georgia while returning from Azerbaijan, killing all 20 people aboard.

Other F-16 fighter jets manufactured by US defense firm Lockheed Martin have also been involved in accidents in recent months.

In January, a Taiwanese F-16 crashed into the sea during a routine mission. Its pilot ejected offshore and was later reported missing. In Poland, an F-16 crashed in August while rehearsing for an air show, killing its pilot. The cause of Wednesday’s crash in Balikesir remains under investigation.