The wreckage of a Turkish fighter jet that crashed off Aegean Sea 51 years ago was found by divers, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Thursday.

The F-84G Thunder jet crashed during a patrol mission in 1958 off Ayvalik town on the Aegean coast of Turkey, but the wreckage of the jet remained a mystery for 51 years until it was discovered on Wednesday, according to the report.

Three divers, including an Anatolia correspondent, found the wreckage after their one-month research thanks to both an eyewitness, who was 12 years old in 1958, and sponge fishermen diving in the area.

Cockpit of the plane and pilot's seat were almost intact despite half a century, but wings and the fuselage were scattered around in small pieces, video footage showed.

The wreckage of the jet, which was one of Turkey's first ones, will be opened for tourism especially for divers, unnamed officials were quoted as saying.

Pilot Erol Fercan was found dead by sponge fishermen in the sea right after the crash in 1958.

Source: Xinhua