Greek military pilots refuse to welcome Erdogan

Greek military pilots, who were in honour of Turkey's president's official plane, Recep Tayip Erdogan, refused to greet him when he arrived for official visit to Greece, the first of a Turkish head of state in Greece after 65 years.

The Greek newspaper “Ta nea” today writes that yesterday at 10:15 a Turkish presidential plane “Airbus A330-20” entered the Greek air control space south of the Greek island of Hios in the Aegean.

While the plane was flying at the borders of Turkish control, it was forwarded by two fighter planes “The F-16C” of Turkish aviation, and for a short time without permission, have entered Greek territory.

Turkish combat aircraft have fled to their side of the border as they have just seen three Greek warplanes approaching Turkey's presidential plane “F-16” from Excadria 337, which was tasked with conveying honor in accordance with diplomatic protocol to show hospitality to the high guest, but also for security reasons, the paper writes.

Then, the commander of the presidential plane, Turkish aviation officer, asked through the radio to evacuate Greek planes, saying he did not want to escort.

“Ta nea” learns that the Greek combat association commander responded that the Turkish plane was located in Greece's space and that its air force is responsible for the security of the presidential aircraft.

Greek planes continued to follow the presidential plane “Airbus”, until it landed at Athens International Airport “Eletherios Venizelos”.

The newspaper reports that three Greek hunters -- a sign of disrespect for the pilot -- after the landing of Erdogan's plane do not say goodbye in closed formations as usual.