The pilot managed to use the automatic ejection system and abandon the aircraft before it crashed. A Search and Rescue helicopter immediately took off, while fishing boats and Coast Guard vessels rushed to the spot, where they saw the parachute fall. The pilot was found alive and immediately transported to Athens where he is being treated at the Air Force Hospital.
According to the information that exists so far, the pilot, fortunately, had managed to eject when he found a problem with his warplane. In fact, he was in the sea for an hour and a half off the island of Psathoura, between Alonissos and Halkidiki, until he was rescued.
Today’s downing of the F-16 was not the first downing of a warplane in the region. It is worth recalling that Lieutenant Commander Evangelos Atmatzakis and Captain Vasilios Christidis lost their lives in Psathoura on January 22, 1987, making this the biggest aircraft thriller in the area. Then, neither the fighter nor the fallen were found. The two unfortunate pilots were flying an F-4E of the 110th Fighter Wing’s 337th All-Weather Squadron.
Moreover, on December 5, 2007, during a night exercise, a single-seater F-16 Block 52+ fighter aircraft of the 110PM / 337 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Athanasios Batsaras, crashed in the area of Psathoura, and was recovered dead.
His pilot’s father F-16 that crashed at noon Mr. Apostolakis spoke to mega while traveling from Larissa to Athens to see his son.
The pilot’s father, who was picked up earlier after the F-16 crashed and taken to a hospital, spoke on the live news show.
The father of the pilot of the fighter plane said that at this time he is coming down from Larissa to Athens to see his child and that he does not know the details yet, but in a short communication his son told him that he is fine. Mr. Apostolakis added that he is not in a good psychological state to speak more.
We remind you that the Air Force was alerted at 1:29 p.m. for the F-16 fighter jet crash on the island of Psathoura, south of Halkidiki.
The pilot was fortunately able to use the seat ejection system and exit the aircraft. He was found in good health by rescuers. The rescuers managed to get the pilot on board the Super Puma and took him to the 251 General Aviation Hospital in Athens.
The chronicle of the fall of the F-16 in Halkidiki
The pilot managed to eject from the aircraft, as nearby eyewitnesses saw a parachute close to the crash site.
A Super Puma helicopter was immediately raised from Lemnos, to begin locating him. The F-16 had taken off from the 337th “Ghost” squadron of the 110th combat wing, in Larissa…
The Coast Guard was also informed of the incident at the same time, with five vessels rushing to assist in the search and rescue.
The General Air Staff announced that: “On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:29 p.m., an F-16 Block 52+ single-seater aircraft of the 337th Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing (FM), which was performing a training flight, crashed in the maritime area of Psathouras.
A search and rescue operation is underway for the operator. A Super Puma helicopter from the 130th Battle Group, a Navy S-70 helicopter, a CL-415 aircraft from the 113th Fighter Wing are rushing to the area, and the frigate “Aegean” is heading to the area, while on high alert. a C-130 type aircraft.
The second announcement of the General Air Staff
“The operator of the F-16 Block 52+ aircraft of the 337th Squadron of the 110th Fighter Wing, which crashed in the Psathoura maritime area, on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, was picked up alive at 15:02 by a Super Puma helicopter of the 130th Fighter Wing, of Aviation and is directed to the 251 General Hospital of Aviation”.
The Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, in a post on Twitter, wished the pilot a speedy return to his duties. “We express our most sincere wishes for a speedy return to his duties, to the pilot of the F-16 fighter aircraft of the Air Force, which crashed today in the Aegean sea area. Congratulations to those who participated in the successful and speedy rescue operation.”
We express our most sincere wishes for a speedy return to his duties, to the pilot of the F-16 fighter aircraft of the Air Force, which crashed today in the Aegean Sea. Congratulations to those involved in the successful and speedy operation…
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 20, 2024
F-16 Block 52: What is the downed fighter – Its characteristics
According to the official website of the Air Force, the Greek Air Force is the first air force in the world to be equipped with the specific F-16 version.
The aircraft in question is an improved version of the BLOCK 50 with advanced electronic systems and a sophisticated engine. The Greek BLOCK 52+ belong to 340, 343 and 337 degrees with callsigns “Fox”, “Star” and “Ghost” respectively. They operate from the air bases of Souda (115 AM) and Larissa (110 AM).
Technical characteristics/Performance
Crew: 1 (C model), 2 (D model)
Engine: 1 Pratt & Whitney F100-PW 229/Thrust: 29,100 lbs
Wingspan: 9.96m
Length: 15.06 m
Maximum speed: 2,173 km. per hour or Mach 2.05
Maximum height: 15,240m. or 50,000 feet
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#curse #Psathoura #struck