Dead pilot Capt. Burak Genççelebi
On April 7, a training aircraft crashed near the city of Konya in central Turkey. Military pilot, Capt. Burak Genççelebi, was killed in the incident.
According to the Defense Ministry, the NF-5 aircraft crashed around 2:15 p.m. local time. The accident took place close to the Third Main Jet Base, a main military aviation hub in the province. Rescue teams were dispatched to the site. Investigation into the cause of the accident was launched.
Source: AA Photo
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wished Allah’s mercy for “the martyred pilot” and extended condolences to his family.
Konya’da bir gösteri uçağımızın eğitim uçuşu sırasında kaza kırıma uğradığını ve pilotumuzun maalesef şehit olduğunu büyük bir teessürle öğrendim.
Şehidimize Allah’tan rahmet niyaz ediyor; ailesine, yakınlarına, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimize ve Milletimize başsağlığı diliyorum.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) April 7, 2021
The crashed jet was part of the Turkish Stars, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Forces, formed on November 7, 1992. They perform during many national events in Turkey.
BİNLERCE METRE YÜKSEKLİKTE 7 UÇAKLA SELFİE ÇEKTİLER. (EMRAH ELMAS/BALIKESİR-İHA)
Only a month ago, on March 4, another major accident hit the Turkish military. Nine Turkish service members were killed and four others were injured when a military helicopter crashed in eastern Turkey. The helicopter, an AS532 Cougar, crashed in the eastern province of Bingol to Tatvan district.
