GREECE: Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter jets collided in mid-air yesterday while shadowing each other in the southern Aegean.
The exact circumstances of the crash, in an area where aircraft of the two rivals frequently harass each other in close manoeuvres, were not immediately clear.
The Turkish military said the collision was caused by a Greek fighter interfering in Turkish manoeuvres in international airspace. Greece, however, said the crash occurred during "interception manoeuvres" above the Greek island of Karpathos.
Karpathos mayor Michalis Ioannidis told Greek television that islanders had heard an explosion but seen nothing. A Greek frigate was ordered to sail to Karpathos, close to popular tourist spot Rhodes and the Turkish coast, to take part in the search and rescue operation. Turkish vessels were also scrambled.
Greek officials said the Turkish pilot had been rescued by a foreign commercial vessel. There was no immediate news of the Greek pilot.
The countries came close to war in 1996 over a deserted Aegean outcrop and over Cyprus in 1974. Relationships have improved in the last six years, with Greece backing Turkey's drive to join the European Union, but tensions remain. Analysts say the collision is sure to sour relations.