Two Greek F-16 Fighter Jets Collide; 1 Dead (Video F-16)

tagged: Anastasakis Io., aviation F-16, Balatsoukas A, Botzakis P, collide, collision, Crete, F-16, F-16 Fighter Falcon, Greece, Greek F-16

Two Greek F-16 Fighter Jets Collide; 1 Dead (Video F-16)

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Politics, Videos

Two Greek military F-16 fighter jets collided in mid-air collision off the southwestern coast of Crete island in southern Greece Thursday at 2 pm, Greek media report.

The F-16 planes — one a single-seater and one a double-seater — had been part of a formation of four planes on a training mission when they collided over the sea off the southwest of Crete.

The pilots of the double-seater managed to use the emergency eject system and were rescued shortly after the crash by a fishing boat and a Coastal Guard vessel. They have been transported to a hospital at the city of Ierapetra. One of the pilots is reported to be in serious health condition.

Unfortunately, the body of the third pilot was recovered dead from the sea more than two hours after the crash, near the island of Chryssi.

Dead is Captain Anastasios Balatsoukas, 33, while the wounded are Captain Iosif Anastasakis,35, and Lieutenant Paulos Botzakis, 25.

As the collision occurred near the island of Crete, eye witnesses report to ALTER TV that they saw a huge flash in the sky, the pilots rocketing from the airplanes and the jets falling into the sea.

According to ALTER TV the F-16s were training on a virtual “dog-fighting”. The defense correspondent of the channel claimed on the live-news that the collision apparently occurred due to a human mistake.

“Dog fight” is a form of aerial combat between fighter jets, that combat at short range and every side is aware of the other’s presence. widely spread air combat maneuver between Greek and Turkish fighter jets over the Aegean.

With this incident the Greek Air Force loses a total of four F-16 fighter jets, that have been received in July 2004.

During a dog-fight with a Turkish F-16 over the Aegean Sea, Captain Konstantinos Iliakis lost his life on May 2006. Another crash occurred December 2007 , where Captain Athanasios Batsaras lost his life as well.

Watch Video Dog Fight F-16 vs. F-15