Military plane crashes in Konya, pilot loses his life

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The Ministry of National Defense has announced that a military plane crashed in central Turkey today (April 7), claiming one life.

"An NF-5 aircraft belonging to our Air Force, which was on a training flight in Konya, suffered an accident at 14:15 for an unknown reason," the ministry said on Twitter, announcing that the pilot of the plane has lost his life. An investigation has been launched into the accident.

The ministry has also said that the plane belonged to Turkish Stars, the aerobatic demonstration team of Turkey's Air Force.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), emergency teams were dispatched to the site after the plane crashed in the Fevzi Cakmak neighborhood in Karatay district, according to local sources.

Following the accident, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a tweet, conveyed condolences to the pilot's family. Among those who extended condolences to his family were Vice President Fuat Oktay, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the Chair of opposition İYİ Party Meral Akşener.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Embassy in Ankara wrote on Twitter: "Our deepest condolences on the tragic crash of NF-5 aircraft in Konya today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family of the martyred pilot, Turkish Armed Forces and the people of Turkey." (SO/SD)