Turkish F-16 crashes in Yalova during training flight; pilot ejects and survives
Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said the pilot ejected and survived; an investigation will seek to establish the cause.
An F-16 jet of the Turkish Air Force crashed into a field in Yalova province on August 12, 2026, during a training flight after suffering a technical defect, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said. The pilot ejected and survived the incident, authorities added.
Videos show explosion and thick black smoke
Footage circulating on social media and carried by local outlets shows an explosion on impact and a plume of dense black smoke rising from the field where the aircraft came down.
“One of the F-16s of our air forces crashed in Yalova during a training flight. The pilot ejected and survived the accident,” the Turkish Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The jet had been taking part in a training sortie from the Yalova air base command. Officials said the initial indication points to a technical defect, but that a detailed inquiry will determine the exact cause.
Medical and firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene after the pilot parachuted to the ground. He was taken to Yalova Research and Training Hospital for treatment.
Authorities announced that an investigation into the crash has been opened and will establish the sequence of events and any technical failures involved.
Photo: Принтскрин / Икс/@aviationbrk
