Plane crashes into ocean after mid-air collision in SE Australia

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) — A fighter jet crashed into the ocean near southeastern Australia after a mid-air collision on Sunday, authorities and local media reported.

Two former military planes collided while on a training flight over the Mornington Peninsula, sending one plummeting into the ocean about 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) off the coast of Mount Martha, while the other plane made it back to base, local daily The Herald Sun reported.

Apart from the pilot, a cameraman who has worked on several popular TV shows was onboard a fighter jet that crashed into the water.

Search and rescue crews have been scouring the waters off Mount Martha, located about 50 km southeast of Melbourne.

Australia's maritime authorities confirmed that two people were on board each of the Viper S-211 Marchetti light aircraft.

They said they would continue the search for the two missing people.