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Update: Greek Navy helicopter crashes in Aegean, three missing

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Greek Navy helicopter crashed in the Aegean Sea during a military exercise early Thursday and three people on board were missing, the Defense Ministry said.

A rescue operation was underway to locate the two pilots and an engineer who were on board the Augusta Bell helicopter.

Defense Ministry officials confirmed at a press briefing that the wreckage of the helicopter has been found near the Kinaros islet, but dismissed earlier media reports that the three officers were killed.

The helicopter was taking part in an exercise codenamed "Lighting." It took off from a frigate.

Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, said the crew did not report any problems before the helicopter disappeared from the radar screen at around 2:45 a.m.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, currently on a visit to Brussels, is expected to return to Athens. Endi