Pilot killed after Greek jet crashes into the Aegean

Greek state television on Thursday claimed that a Greek military aircraft crashed into the eastern Aegean Sea after returning from a patrol.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos later announced that the pilot was dead. “A Greek pilot is in the pantheon of heroes. Sincere condolences to his family,” said Kammenos.

The air force fighter jet crashed close to Greece’s Skyros Island. Greek navy ships and military helicopters were utilized to find the Mirage 2000-5 and the pilot.

The aircraft, which took off from Greece’s 135th Air Base, did not report any malfunctions. Communications with the jet cut off at 12:15 local time (0915GMT northeast of the Skyros Island.

Military sources said that no Turkish planes were in the region during the incident.