Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2923
2006-05-23 15:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
AEGEAN: TURKISH AND GREEK WARPLANES COLLIDE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #2923 1431501 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231501Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5784 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE//SA/SACEUR// IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002923
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU GR NATO
SUBJECT: AEGEAN: TURKISH AND GREEK WARPLANES COLLIDE
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002923
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU GR NATO
SUBJECT: AEGEAN: TURKISH AND GREEK WARPLANES COLLIDE
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: A Greek F16 and Turkish F16 collided in
midair in international waters near the Greek island of
Karpatos at mid-day May 23. The Turkish pilot was rescued;
it appears the Greek pilot died. Turkish FonMin Gul called
Greek FonMin Bokayannis to express regret over the incident
and condolences for the loss of the pilot; the Turkish and
Greek CHODs have apparently also spoken. A Turkish MFA
statement says that both countries do not want the incident
to affect bilateral relations. We believe Turkey is seeking
to keep this incident in perspective and not allow it to
escalate. End summary.
2. (U) According to a statement by the Turkish military, a
Turkish F16 and a Greek F16 collided in the Aegean Sea on May
23. The statement claims that Turkish F16s on a routine
training mission 35 miles south of Rhodes were intercepted by
Greek warplanes at 12:48 Turkish time (Zulu plus three),and
that during this incident a Greek and Turkish plane collided,
with both falling to the sea. The statement says that the
Turkish pilot, First Lieutenant Halil Ibrahim Ozdemir, was
rescued.
3. (U) Both the Greek and Turkish press have been reporting
widely on the incident. It is not clear as of this writing
whether the Turkish pilot has been rescued by Turkish or
Greek authorities. Ominously, there are no reports of any
rescue of the Greek pilot, and the press is reporting that he
is presumed to be dead.
4. (C) NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) Six
(located in Eskisehir, Turkey) reported that the collision
took place 15 miles south-southeast of Karpatos Island, which
would place the site of the collision in international
airspace.
5. (C) DCM called MFA Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, who reported
that FonMin Gul had just spoken to Greek FonMin Bakoyannis to
express regret for the incident and condolences for the
apparent loss of life of the Greek pilot. Tuygan also
confirmed media reports that the Turkish CHOD, GEN Hilmi
Ozkok, had been in touch with his Greek counterpart. Tuygan
told us that both sides are working to calm the situation and
avoid escalation. He said the Turkish MFA would release a
statement (see text para. 6). DCM urged that the statement
be worded so as to calm the public reaction and avoid
escalation of tensions. (COMMENT: We believe the statement
should do so. END COMMENT.)
6. (U) MFA released the following statement COB May 23
(informal embassy translation):
BEGIN TEXT
Today (May 23) at around noon a Turkish and a Greek plane
collided in international airspace and crashed approximately
35 miles south of Rhodes.
After the incident our pilot was rescued and it was learned
with regret that the Greek pilot has lost his life.
Immediately after the incident, Acting Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Mr. Abdullah Gul called Greek Foreign
Minister Dora Bakoyannis and expressed our sorrow and
conveyed condolences.
During the conversation, both ministers agreed that the
incident should be investigated fully and thoroughly and it
should not affect bilateral relations.
END TEXT
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU GR NATO
SUBJECT: AEGEAN: TURKISH AND GREEK WARPLANES COLLIDE
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: A Greek F16 and Turkish F16 collided in
midair in international waters near the Greek island of
Karpatos at mid-day May 23. The Turkish pilot was rescued;
it appears the Greek pilot died. Turkish FonMin Gul called
Greek FonMin Bokayannis to express regret over the incident
and condolences for the loss of the pilot; the Turkish and
Greek CHODs have apparently also spoken. A Turkish MFA
statement says that both countries do not want the incident
to affect bilateral relations. We believe Turkey is seeking
to keep this incident in perspective and not allow it to
escalate. End summary.
2. (U) According to a statement by the Turkish military, a
Turkish F16 and a Greek F16 collided in the Aegean Sea on May
23. The statement claims that Turkish F16s on a routine
training mission 35 miles south of Rhodes were intercepted by
Greek warplanes at 12:48 Turkish time (Zulu plus three),and
that during this incident a Greek and Turkish plane collided,
with both falling to the sea. The statement says that the
Turkish pilot, First Lieutenant Halil Ibrahim Ozdemir, was
rescued.
3. (U) Both the Greek and Turkish press have been reporting
widely on the incident. It is not clear as of this writing
whether the Turkish pilot has been rescued by Turkish or
Greek authorities. Ominously, there are no reports of any
rescue of the Greek pilot, and the press is reporting that he
is presumed to be dead.
4. (C) NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) Six
(located in Eskisehir, Turkey) reported that the collision
took place 15 miles south-southeast of Karpatos Island, which
would place the site of the collision in international
airspace.
5. (C) DCM called MFA Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, who reported
that FonMin Gul had just spoken to Greek FonMin Bakoyannis to
express regret for the incident and condolences for the
apparent loss of life of the Greek pilot. Tuygan also
confirmed media reports that the Turkish CHOD, GEN Hilmi
Ozkok, had been in touch with his Greek counterpart. Tuygan
told us that both sides are working to calm the situation and
avoid escalation. He said the Turkish MFA would release a
statement (see text para. 6). DCM urged that the statement
be worded so as to calm the public reaction and avoid
escalation of tensions. (COMMENT: We believe the statement
should do so. END COMMENT.)
6. (U) MFA released the following statement COB May 23
(informal embassy translation):
BEGIN TEXT
Today (May 23) at around noon a Turkish and a Greek plane
collided in international airspace and crashed approximately
35 miles south of Rhodes.
After the incident our pilot was rescued and it was learned
with regret that the Greek pilot has lost his life.
Immediately after the incident, Acting Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Mr. Abdullah Gul called Greek Foreign
Minister Dora Bakoyannis and expressed our sorrow and
conveyed condolences.
During the conversation, both ministers agreed that the
incident should be investigated fully and thoroughly and it
should not affect bilateral relations.
END TEXT
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON