A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter crashed during a training flight on Wednesday in Yalova Province, northwest of Istanbul, according to Turkey's Ministry of National Defense.
The pilot ejected safely before the aircraft went down, and the ministry said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. No other casualties have been reported.
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Videos published by Turkish media showed thick black smoke rising from an open field where the aircraft crashed.
The ministry did not identify the aircraft's variant or the unit involved in the accident.
https://x.com/airwayaviation/status/2087593952106987647
Turkey operates one of the world's largest F-16 fleets, with approximately 238 aircraft, including single-seat F-16C and two-seat F-16D variants. The fighter has formed the backbone of the Turkish Air Force since the late 1980s and remains its principal combat aircraft.
Ankara has pursued several modernization efforts to extend the fleet's service life while awaiting the introduction of the indigenous KAAN fighter. However, one upgrade program was postponed in late 2024 as Turkey reviewed its long-term fighter procurement strategy.
The crash comes as Turkey continues to expand and modernize its combat aviation capabilities through a combination of domestic development programs and new F-16 acquisitions approved by the United States.
