Turkish military says it has lost contact with fighter plane close to border with Syria

Turkey's military says it has lost contact with a fighter plane in southern Turkey.

A military statement said Monday it lost contact with the F-16 jet over a mountainous area in Osmaniye province, which is close to the border with Syria. The plane had taken off from a base in northern Amasya province, some 450 kilometres (280 miles) away.

The statement said the pilot radioed in to say he was ejecting before contact was lost.

Turkey's NTV television said the pilot ejected safely from the plane. There was no confirmation of that report.