Cihan News Agency,
The Turkish Air Force Corps has blamed Greek warplanes for causing yesterday's mid-air collision between a Turkish and Greek F-16 jet.
A statement from the Turkish Air Forces Command issued on Wednesday declared that the Greek warplanes by violating International Civil Aviation Organization rules and engagements were responsible for the collision.
A Greek and a Turkish fighter jet collided above the southern Aegean island of Karpathos (Kerpe) on Tuesday, resulting in the death of the Greek pilot.
“A Greek F-16 jet crashed at speed into a Turkish jet from behind and below while the Turkish warplane was carrying out a routine flight and was not attempting any manoeuvre,” the statement said.
“Greek jets, in violation of rules, approached and harassed the Turkish jets prior to the collision,” the statement added.
The Turkish Air Force Corps stated that three Turkish jets were in the air when the collision occurred.
The statement added that the Turkish pilot ejected from his plane in time and was rescued by a Panama-flagged vessel before being airlifted to the Turkish mainland by military helicopter.
“The health condition of the pilot is good,” the statement concluded
