ATHENS — Two Greek fighter jets collided in mid-air on Thursday, the defence ministry said, killing one of the pilots and leaving two other crew injured.
The collision between the two F-16 planes, a one- and two-seater respectively, happened south of the island of Crete during training in air fighting involving six aircraft, the air force high command said.
A fisherman engaged in a search of the area found the body of one pilot a few hours later, state television reported.
The two others were plucked from the sea after ejecting, one of them with serious injuries to his head and one lung.
The jets were from Souda air force base in the northwest of Crete, the defence ministry said.
Greek fighter pilots are in constant readiness over the Aegean Sea due to frequent incursions by Turkish aircraft into Greek-controlled airspace disputed by Turkey.
In a similar incident in 2006, a Greek pilot was killed when his plane collided with a Turkish jet during one of the regular mock dogfights in the area.
26.08.2010