Turkish Air Force F-16C/D Destroyed

A Turkish Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed shortly after takeoff from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir at approximately 01:00 local time on February 25. Radar contact was lost moments after departure, and search teams discovered the wreckage near the Istanbul-İzmir motorway in the Marmara region. The pilot was killed in the crash. The Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the cause. Turkey operates a large fleet of F-16C/D fighters, with ongoing modernization through the Viper upgrade program.