A Canadian helicopter, involved in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercises off the coast of Greece, disappeared in the Ionian Sea, with search and rescue efforts underway, the Canadian Armed Forces said on Wednesday.
The defense force said on Twitter that HMCS Fredericton (Canadian Armed Forces frigate) lost contact with the helicopter that had been assigned to it, the CH-148 Cyclone. No further details were provided.
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The helicopter was outside the control zone of Greece, 50 miles (80 km) from the Greek island of Kefalonia, reported the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
According to Greek television ERT, search operations are being carried out by frigates of the Italian and Turkish navies. The Greek authorities have indicated that they have not yet been asked for help, as the area is already outside the country’s responsibility for search and rescue operations.
The helicopter would have between three and six people on board, but the number of occupants has yet to be confirmed.
