| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Aircraft hit the hill due to pilot error and crashed into soldiers' military exercise site, Controlled Flight Into Terrain |
| Site: | Babaeski Kırklareli, Turkey |
| Total Fatalities: | 66 (65 on the ground) |
| Aircraft Type: | Northrop F-5 |
| Operator: | Turkish Air Force |
| Tail Number: | 64-13340 |
| Origin: | Babaeski, Kırklareli |
| Destination: | Babaeski, Kırklareli |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Fatalities: | 66 (65 on the ground) |
| Injuries: | 72 (ground injuries) |
| Survivors: | 30 |
During a military exercise in Babaeski, Kırklareli, on 22 September 1981, a Turkish Air Force Northrop F-5 crashed during a military exercise, killing 35 and injuring more than 72 soldiers. 31 more soldiers died later from their injuries. The crash is still the worst military air disaster in Turkey's history as of May 2024.[1] [2] [3]
On 22 September 1981 Turkish Armed Forces, were conducting a military exercise in Babaeski, Kırklareli, 2 kilometers away from the E-5 roadway.[4]
While more than 100 soldiers were on ground, Pilot Lieutenant Mustafa Özcan was piloting a Northrop F-5. According to a surviving soldier, the jet hit a hill and crashed into the soldiers.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] 35 soldiers had died and more than 70 were injured. 31 more passed away days later. A river near the exercise saved some soldiers from burning.[10] Most of the soldiers' bodies were burnt badly. Eight of them could not be identified.[11]
A memorial site was erected in early 2000. The soldiers that died have their graves there. Every year on September 22, a ceremony takes place on the memorial site.[12]