Turkish F-16 crashes after takeoff, pilot dies

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff during a flight mission early Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of the pilot, Major Ibrahim Bolat. The aircraft, part of the Balikesir 9th Main Jet Base Command, went down around 12:50 a.m., prompting an investigation by the Turkish Defense Ministry and the Balikesir prosecutor’s office. The crash also caused temporary closures on a major highway between Istanbul and Izmir due to debris.

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