Turkish Air Force F-16 Crashes in Balıkesir, Pilot Killed; Investigation Underway

A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed near the Bursa-Izmir highway in Balıkesir province during a training mission around 00:50 local time on February 25, 2026. The pilot was killed in the accident. The aircraft, assigned to the 9th Main Jet Base Command, lost radio contact and radar tracking shortly after takeoff. Emergency teams responded promptly, and an official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.