Helios Airways tragedy marks 21st anniversary

Cyprus and Greece are marking the 21st anniversary of the Helios Airways Flight 522 tragedy. On August 14, 2005, a Boeing 737-300 traveling from Larnaca to Prague via Athens crashed in the mountainous Grammatiko region of Greece, killing all 121 people on board, including 22 children.

Investigations revealed that the aircraft suffered a loss of cabin pressure, leading to hypoxia for the crew and passengers. During the flight, the aircraft entered Greek airspace without communicating with the control tower. Greek F-16 fighter jets intercepted the plane and observed a grim scene: the co-pilot was unconscious, the captain was not in his seat, and oxygen masks had deployed. Flight attendant Andreas Prodromou is remembered for his heroic, though ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to take control of the aircraft.

Commemorations were held in Paralimni, attended by government officials and grieving families. The tragedy remains a significant event in the collective memory of both nations, highlighting critical issues in aviation safety.