A video showing the underwater operation to hoist an F-16 Blk 52+ fighter jet of the Greek airforce was released. The operation took place between June 29 and July 7 off the southern coast of the island of Crete. The jet crashed into the sea on December 4, 2014 due to mechanical failure and the team of experts wanted to lift the vessels to examine the exact causes of its fall. Both pilots managed to escape by activating the automatic eject system. Two missions were carried out with the collaboration of the a special Air Force units made of officers and staff from the Greek Centre of Aquatic Research to ascertain the reasons. The two teams were on board the Oceanographic vessel ‘Aegean’. The first mission, which took place in December 2014 focused on spotting the sunk aircraft, while the second mission, which was successfully conducted was to hoist main part of the F-16. The whole operation is considered an extremely dangerous undertaking as the teams had to dive at a depth of 1km.

Ανέλκυση Αεροσκάφους F-16 Blk 52+ from Hellenic Air Force on Vimeo.