ALABWABA - Turkey's Ministry of National Defense announced Wendesday the death of a pilot in a F-16 fighter jet crash in northwestern Balikesir province.
In a statement on X, the ministry said, "Our pilot was martyred. The cause of the accident will be determined following an investigation by the crash examination team."
According to the data revealed, radio contact and tracking information with the jet were lost shortly after it took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balikesir at 12.56 a.m. local time.
A photo released by Turkey's Ministry of National Defense revealed the name of the dead pilot. (X)
The ministry also identified the pilot killed in the F-16 fighter jet crash as Ibrahim Bolat and offered condolences to his family.
Turkish teams quickly started search and rescue operations, and the wreckage was later found, it mentioned. The reason behind the crash is yet to be known.
An unconfirmed video emerged on social media claiming to show the moment of the crash of the Turkish fighter jet.
