Greek and Turkish planes collide
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5008178.stm
Greek and Turkish F-16 jets have crashed into the southern Aegean Sea after colliding in mid-air.
The collision, near Karpathos island, occurred after Greece scrambled a jet to intercept the Turkish aircraft, a Greek government official said.
The Turkish pilot was rescued after ejecting safely, but there is no official word on the Greek pilot’s fate. A search and rescue is under way.
The two countries have a long-standing dispute over the Aegean.
Turkey insists Greek airspace extends only 10km (6 miles) offshore, not 16km (10 miles) as Greece maintains.
In the past, the two have come close to armed conflict over the dispute.
Nato has previously warned the two member states that their frequent mock dogfights in the area are dangerous.
Explosion in the sky
The collision was spotted by passengers on board a plane travelling to Cairo, according to eyewitnesses quoted on Greek television.
Greek F-16 fighters (file picture)
The planes were F-16 fighter jets, used by both air forces
They reportedly saw an explosion in the sky.
Greek government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said the planes went down after they had touched wing-tips.
“It was likely an interception operation,” he said.
Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said the country’s military chief was in talks with his Greek counterpart over the collision, state-run Anatolia news agency reports.
“We are also waiting for exact information,” he said.
Turkish officials said the Turkish pilot had been picked up by a passing merchant ship.
The Greek authorities said they had sent out search and rescue teams, including a frigate.
“Several Super Puma rescue helicopters are on their way to the area,” a Greek government official told Reuters news agency.
Incidents like this keep happening on a frequent basis. My Greek friends fathers are pilots and they keep telling them about these “mock” dogfights between the Greek and Turkish airplanes happening quite often.
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