A Turkish F-16 fighter jet crashed in western Balikesir province in Turkiye early Wednesday, killing the pilot.

Axar.az informs Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed the crash, saying the aircraft belonged to the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balikesir.

Radio contact and tracking information with the aircraft were lost at 12:56 a.m. local time (2156 GMT Tuesday). Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, and the wreckage was later located, the ministry said in a statement.

"Our pilot was martyred. The cause of the accident will be determined following an investigation by the crash examination team," the ministry said, offering condolences to the pilot's family.