Pilot killed after F-16 jets collide off Crete

ATHENS - A pilot was killed Thursday after two Greek F16 fighter planes collided during a military exercise off the southern Mediterranean island of Crete, the Defence Ministry said.

Reports said the two pilots in one of the aircraft ejected immediately after the collision and were rescued shortly afterwards by the crew of a fishing boat and a yacht near the resort of Ierapetra.

Rescue crews spent hours searching for the pilot of the other plane, who was later found dead.