Footage of F-16 fighter jet crash in Balıkesir emerges! Identity of martyred pilot revealed
Footage has emerged showing the moments an F-16 fighter jet crashed near a highway in Balıkesir. The Ministry of National Defense announced that Air Force Pilot Major İbrahim Bolat has been martyred.
İHA
An F-16 fighter jet that took off from the 9th Main Jet Base in Balıkesir has crashed, resulting in the martyrdom of one soldier.
Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu announced that an F-16 fighter jet, which took off from the Balıkesir Main Jet Base around 00:50, crashed during a training flight and that one soldier was martyred.
It was learned that the aircraft crashed in the rural area of Naifli village, located in the Karesi district of Balıkesir, near the İzmir-İstanbul Highway.
While security measures have been increased in the area where the aircraft crashed, the İzmir-İstanbul Highway has been closed to traffic in both directions. Footage of the moments the F-16 crashed has emerged.
Numerous fire and ambulance teams have been dispatched to the region.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: WRECKAGE REACHED FOLLOWING SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
In a statement regarding the incident, the Ministry of National Defense said, "Radio contact and tracking data for one of our F-16 aircraft, which took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir, were lost as of 00:56. As a result of the search and rescue operations immediately initiated, it was determined that our aircraft had crashed and the wreckage has been reached. Our pilot has been martyred. The cause of the accident will be determined as a result of the investigations to be carried out by the accident investigation team. We wish God's mercy upon our martyred pilot and extend our condolences to his family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation."
IDENTITY OF THE MARTYRED PILOT REVEALED
In a subsequent statement, the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced the identity of the martyred pilot.
The statement from the MSB reported that Air Force Pilot Major İbrahim Bolat was martyred in the tragic accident.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) February 25, 2026
AKIN GÜRLEK: JUDICIAL PROCESS INITIATED REGARDING THE INCIDENT
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated in a post on his social media account, "An F-16 aircraft belonging to the fleet of the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base Command crashed during a mission flight, and one of our heroic pilots has been martyred. Our Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation into the incident, and our Chief Prosecutor, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and two Public Prosecutors have arrived at the scene of the accident. I wish God's mercy upon our martyr and extend my condolences to his grieving family and relatives. I wish patience and fortitude to our Turkish Armed Forces. My condolences to our noble nation."
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR: COORDINATION WITH ALL INSTITUTIONS CONTINUES
In a statement from the Ministry of Interior, it was noted that the process is being closely monitored, stating, "Radio contact with one of our F-16 aircraft that took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command was lost as of 00:56 at night, and as a result of the search and rescue operations immediately initiated, it was learned that our aircraft had crashed and the wreckage was reached. We learned with deep sorrow that our heroic pilot was martyred in this tragic accident. The cause of the accident will become clear after the technical investigation to be conducted by the relevant accident investigation team. As the Ministry of Interior, we are closely following the process in all its aspects and working in full coordination with our relevant institutions. We wish God's mercy upon our martyred heroic pilot; we extend our condolences and patience to his precious family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation. My condolences to our nation."
Balıkesir Governor Ustaoğlu stated in a post on his social media account, "An F-16 aircraft belonging to the fleet of the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base Command crashed around 00:50 during a mission flight, and one of our pilots has been martyred. I wish God's mercy upon our martyr and extend my condolences to his relatives. My condolences to our noble nation."
CEVDET YILMAZ: INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED METICULOUSLY
Vice President Yılmaz stated in a post on his social media account that the accident would be handled in its judicial and administrative dimensions, saying, "I wish God's mercy upon our heroic pilot who was martyred as a result of the crash of our F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base during a mission flight, and I extend my patience and condolences to our nation, especially his family. The tragic accident will be investigated meticulously in both judicial and administrative terms."