A Greek army pilot was killed and another missing on Monday after their F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed into the Ionian Sea in western Greece, Greece’s defense minister said, Reuters and AFP reported.
“An F-4 Phantom two-seater crashed during an Air Force training flight 25 nautical miles (46.3 kilometers) south of Andravida Military Airport” in western Greece, “causing the death of the co-pilot,” the General Staff announced. press release, News.ro reports.
Parts of the wreckage of the fighter found about 35 nautical miles south of Andravida, #Greece.
A Greek F-4 Phantom II with two crew members crashed into the Ionian Sea on Monday morning during a training flight. @HAF spokesperson pic.twitter.com/kAAQDBG9jt
— Daphna Tolis (@daphnetoli) January 30, 2023
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he was “devastated” and sent his “heartfelt condolences” to the family of 29-year-old Lieutenant Marios-Michailo Tourutsikas.
Rescue helicopters and Coast Guard patrol boats were dispatched to search for the pilot.
The body of the co-pilot was found six hours after the crash of the fighter jet, according to a source in the General Staff.
The search for the pilot continued on Monday evening.
American-made F-4 Phantom fighters are among the oldest aircraft of the Greek Air Force.
Greece bought the first Phantoms in 1974 and last upgraded them 20 years ago.
Source: Hot News
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