A Greek airforce pilot was killed Monday and a second was missing after their aged two-seat F-4 Phantom jet went down in the Ionian Sea, officials said.

The air force said the jet had fallen 25 nautical miles (46 kilometres) south of Andravida military airport in western Greece during a training flight.

Rescue helicopters and coastguard patrol boats were dispatched to search for the pilots, the statement added.

Some six hours after the fall, the air force said it had recovered the body of the co-pilot, but was still looking for the pilot.

The US-made F-4 Phantoms are among the oldest equipment in Greece’s arsenal.

Greece acquired its first Phantoms in 1974 and last upgraded them some two decades ago.

The model originally dates from the 1960s.

Source: AFP