An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Turkey on the night of February 25, triggering a large-scale fire and prompting the deployment of emergency crews. The information was confirmed by Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense.
According to an official statement, the aircraft took off around 1:00 a.m. (local time) from Balıkesir Air Base in the country’s northwest. The flight was part of a training mission.
Communication lost shortly after takeoff
The ministry stated that contact with the aircraft was lost immediately after takeoff, and it subsequently disappeared from radar screens.
It was later confirmed that the F-16 crashed near the Izmir–Istanbul highway. Witnesses recorded video moments after the impact, showing a massive fireball rising above the roadway.
Emergency services arrived quickly at the scene. Traffic on the highway was blocked to allow rescue and firefighting operations. Images shared on social media show debris scattered for hundreds of meters around the crash site.
Pilot killed at the scene
According to official data released by Turkish authorities, the pilot did not survive the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A special commission has been established to investigate the circumstances of the accident and determine its cause.
Another recent accident in the country
The incident comes just months after another air disaster in Turkey. In December, an aircraft carrying eight people crashed in the country, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army. All occupants were killed.
Authorities have so far indicated no connection between the two incidents.
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
Source and images: X @Archer83Able | Wikimedia | Militarnyi. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
