Greek fighter jets intercept armed Turkish F-16s near Kastelorizo

Greek fighter jets engaged in a close-proximity interception with armed Turkish F-16s west of the island of Kastelorizo in the Aegean Sea. According to the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, seven Turkish aircraft entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) without authorization on October 5, 2026.

The most significant encounter involved two fully armed Turkish F-16s flying in formation. The incident included two violations of national airspace and one breach of air traffic rules. Greek aircraft scrambled to intercept, resulting in a close engagement where Greek crews boxed in the Turkish formation and forced them back into the Istanbul FIR.

In addition to the fighter jets, Ankara deployed four unmanned aircraft and an ATR-72 maritime patrol aircraft, which contributed to several airspace violations and interceptions. This event follows a pattern of similar aerial tensions and interceptions in the sensitive maritime region near the Greek-Turkish border.