An NF-5A Freedom Fighter jet belonging to the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force the Turkish Stars has crashed in Konya. The jets took off from the 3rd main operational training airbase in Konya to practice for their upcoming airshow season when one of the jets crashed for unknown reasons.

The jet went down in the Central Karatay district at 14:15 local time and the sole pilot onboard Captain Burak Genççelebi has died as a result.

Search and rescue teams were dispatched to the crash site and an investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident.

The Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed the news in their released statement:

“The pilot of our NF-5 aircraft, which was damaged in an accident during the training flight in Konya , was martyred. We extend our condolences and patience to our Hero Pilot, God's mercy, his grieving family, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Supreme Turkish Nation.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also issued a condolence message for the pilot of the Turkish Stars.

"Unfortunately, one of our planes that we know as Turkish Stars crashes during the training flight and our pilot captain is also martyred. We wish God's mercy on them,”

NF-5 aircraft has been in use by the Turkish Air Force since 1987. Turkish Air Force aerobatic team was formed on November 7th 1992 and was named the Turkish Stars on January 11th 1993. The team has a full squadron status and is designated the 134th Aerobatic Team Squadron.

The team fly with eight Canadair NF-5s, obtained from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, making them one of the few national aerobatics teams to fly supersonic aircraft, and the only one with formations of eight supersonic jets. Turkish Stars have been performing with modernized NF-5 2000 aircraft since 2010. Currently, the team continues operating the NF-5 jets with 10 single-seat NF-5A 2000 and 6 dual-seat NF-5B 2000 aircraft in their fleet.