South Carolina ? An Air Force pilot likely died instantly when his F-16 fighter jet collided with another over the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said Saturday.

The search for Capt. Nicholas Giglio, who has been missing since Thursday night’s crash, was shifted to a recovery effort looking for his body and the plane’s wreckage.

Investigators believe the bottom of the other jet struck the top of Giglio’s fighter and pierced the pilot’s canopy, Air Force Col. Joe Guastella said. The other pilot was not injured and was able to land his plane safely.