ATHENS – A pair of Turkish F-16 fighter jets entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) without submitting flight plans on Friday morning and then proceeded to fly over the islands of Panagia and Oinousses. .

According to an announcement by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), the fighter planes flew over the islands at 17,000 and 19,000 feet, respectively, at the time of 10:56 and then returned half an hour later, at 11:25, to fly over Oinousses at 33,000 feet.

The Turkish aircraft were in each case identified and intercepted by Greek fighter planes, in accordance with international rules and standard practice.