Today (23 May), at around noontime, a Turkish and a Greek aircraft collided and crashed in the international airspace approximately 35 miles south off Rhodes Island.

The Turkish pilot has been rescued after the incident. It was learned with sorrow that the Greek pilot has lost his life.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdullah Gül called Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Dora Bakoyanni immediately after the incident and expressed our sorrow and extended his condolences.

The two Foreign Ministers reached a common understanding to examine all aspects of the incident and that it should not effect bilateral relations between the two countries.