Athens clarifies that Turkish F-16 fighters interfered with a NATO-agreed flight of American B-52 aircraft in the Athens FIR by violating Air Traffic Rules due to failure to file a Flight Plan and were intercepted in accordance with international rules and standard practice.
Answer to her claims Ankara that Greek fighters locked Turkish F-16s with their radars which were performing NATO duties in the Eastern Mediterranean, and attempted to block the Turkish ones, the Ministry of Defense said.
Turkey also maintains that it responded to this action and that the Greek fighter jets were removed from the area, while it states that the military attaché of Greece was summoned for an explanation to the Ministry of Defense.
Athens denies Turkish claims, clarifying Turkish F-16 fighter jets interfered with NATO-agreed flight of US jets B-52 in the Athens FIR violating Air Traffic Rules due to failure to file a Flight Plan and were intercepted in accordance with international rules and standard practice.
The announcement of the MINISTER
“From the Ministry of National Defense it is announced that following consultation and agreement between GEETHA and Air Command (AIRCOM) of NATO, at noon on August 22, 2022, a flight of American B-52 aircraft took place in the FIR of Athens.
The B-52s entered from the southwestern border of the Athens FIR in order to exit from it west of the island of Megistis. The flight of the said aircraft took place as part of a demonstration of Inter-Allied cohesion and solidarity.
While the movement of the B-52s was not intended to be accompanied by fighter jets, as has happened at other times in the past, five unidentified air contrails moved east of Karpathos interfering with the route of the B-52s, at the same time violating the Air Traffic Rules due to the failure to submit a Flight Plan.
Four F-16 Fighter Aircraft of the PA immediately took off. from Crete, which recognized the unknown tracks as armed Turkish F-16 Fighter Jets, intercepted in accordance with international rules and consistent practice.
The competent authorities of NATO and the USA have been informed about the matter.
Any other description of the facts involved is false.”
Turkey is escalating the tension over the Aegean
It is noted that the Turkish Air Force carried out 78 violations of Greek airspace on Tuesday, while there were also eight engagements with Greek aircraft.
In all cases, the Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by corresponding Greek fighters, in accordance with international rules, according to standard tactics, as announced by the Greek Defense Ministry.
Foreign Ministry: Report on Turkish overflights
It is noted that the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs proceeded in protest to Ankara for today’s Turkish F-16 overflights in the Aegean.
Diplomatic sources clarified, however, that the specific practice of sending a diplomatic note is followed in every provocation against our country.
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