The Turkish army confirmed on Tuesday that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet and a Greek F-16 fighter jet had collided over the eastern Aegean Sea after what it said was an attempt by Greek warplanes to intercept Turkish jets.
The Turkish pilot ejected and survived the crash, a statement by the general staff said.
It said the incident happened while the Turkish jets were on ”routine training flights” in ”international” air space.
”At around 12.48pm local time today planes of the Greek Air Force intercepted planes of the Turkish Air Force, on routine training flights in the Aegean and Mediterranean international air space, 35 miles south of Rhodes island,” the statement said.
”During the interception, an F-16 of the Turkish Air Force collided with an F-16 of the Greek Air Force and both planes crashed.
”Investigation into the incident continues,” it said.
The NTV news channel reported that the Turkish pilot had been rescued by a Turkish commercial ship in the area.
The crash occurred as a result of a ”dogfight”, it said.
Warplanes from troubled Nato allies Turkey and Greece frequently engage in mock dogfights over the Aegean, in airspace claimed by both countries.
Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said the Turkish army chief had contacted his Greek counterpart to clarify what had happened, Anatolia news agency reported. — AFP
