December 22, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
Today, at 18:31 local time, a Turkish F-16C block 40 crashed during a training flight. The F-16 belonged to the 6th AJÜ (Ana Jet Üs), based at Bandirma AB. Pilot Serhat Yildirim ejected safely but suffered some injuries.
Yildirim was taken under treatment in Bandirma Mustafa Guven Karahan State Hospital.
The plane, which probably belonged to the LANTIRN equipped 161. Filo Yarasa (Bat) squadron, crashed near Bandirma in the Balikesir province (Marmara Region).
The General Staff confirmed that the F-16 went down due to a technical failure.
