ADVERTISEMENT

A Greek fighter pilot died in a crash after a mission to intercept Turkish jets

Both Greek and Turkish media outlets reported the crash, saying a search-and-rescue operation by Greece's navy had been underway.

  • A Greek Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet crashed over the Aegean Sea on Thursday, multiple news outlets reported.
  • Greece's defense minister has said the pilot is dead.
  • Greek and Turkish planes often engage near their borders but are rarely armed and tend not to fire anything.
ADVERTISEMENT

A Greek Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet went down near the Aegean island of Skyros on Thursday, according to multiple reports, and Greece's defense minister has said the pilot is dead.

The Greek newspaper Kathimerini cited a source as saying the Mirage had been returning from a mission to intercept Turkish jets.

Both Turkish and Greek news outlets reported that a search-and-rescue operation by Greece's navy had been underway.

ADVERTISEMENT

"An M2000-5, 9 nautical miles of Iskiri (Skiros) Island disappeared in the northeast" Turkey's Milliyet newspaper reported, quoting a statement from Greece's air force.

According to the Milliyet report, Turkey's military said its jets were nowhere near the scene of the crash at the time.

Greece and Turkey frequently engage jets in dogfights over the Aegean Sea, but the planes are often unarmed and rarely fire missiles.

The Mirage is a single-engine multirole aircraft from the 1970s employed by air forces across Europe.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

ADVERTISEMENT