The Turkish army said Friday it lost radar and radio contact with one of its aircraft on the Mediterranean near neighboring Syria.

The Turkish army said Friday it lost radar and radio contact with one of its aircraft on the Mediterranean near neighboring Syria.

The plane took off from Malatya airbase in the southeast at 07:30 GMT and lost communication with the base at 08:58 GMT in the southwest of the Hatay province bordering Syria, said an online statement.

"Search and rescue efforts have started immediately," it said adding that it was not immediately clear if the plane crashed or if there were casualties.

Malatya governor Ulvi Saran told the Anatolia news agency that it was a F-4 plane with two pilots onboard, without elaborating further.

"We have no information right now about the fate of the plane. We are following the developments," he said.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that a crisis meeting is to be held in Turkey after the military plane disappeared near Syria.