Italian and Turkish vessels on Thursday were engaged in a search and rescue operation after a Canadian military helicopter disappeared in the Ionian Sea, the Defence Ministry in Ankara said.
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“Our TCG Salihreis frigate, and the Italian FASAN frigate launched a search and rescue operation for the fallen helicopter and its crew,” the ministry said.
The helicopter, deployed on board a Canadian warship, disappeared around 8 p.m (1800 GMT) the previous night during a NATO exercise west of the Greek Island of Kefalonia.
According to the Greek media, the aircraft was above international waters, but in Italian airspace at the time of its disappearance.
The Canadian Cyclone helicopter usually carries four crew members but can have additional personnel or passengers on board. It is a militarized version of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter.