A Greek F-16 crashes during a training mission, but the pilot is rescued

Guests take photographs of Greek F-16 Viper fighter jets at Tanagra air force base about 74 kilometres north of Athens, Greece, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities said an F-16 fighter jet crashed in the Aegean Sea during a training flight Wednesday. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was later rescued.

The incident occurred near the small island of Psathoura, 175 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of Athens, after the single-seat jet fighter took off from an air base in central Greece.

The pilot was rescued by a helicopter launched as part of a joint mission by the military and the coast guard, the air force said. The pilot was hospitalized for observation.

Greece is currently upgrading its F-16 fleet as part of a major military modernization program aimed at keeping pace with regional rival Turkey.

Wednesday's crash occurred hours after Greece took delivery of three U.S.-made MH-60R Seahawk navy helicopters at a ceremony near Athens. The manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, said it will deliver four more MH-60Rs in 2025.