Pieria plane crash kills two experienced pilots

A single-engine aircraft crashed near the Pieria Aero Club in the Kontariotissa region of Greece on Sunday, October 18, 2026, resulting in the deaths of two men. The victims have been identified as 41-year-old Christos Anastasiadis and 58-year-old Theologos Marantidis.

Anastasiadis, a highly experienced pilot and former Hellenic Air Force Canadair operator, was the owner and pilot of the aircraft. He was a father of four and had previously served as a vice president of the Pieria Aero Club. Marantidis was a passenger and a friend of the pilot.

The aircraft reportedly crashed into a dry riverbed during the final stages of an approach to the local runway. Witnesses and the president of the Pieria Aero Club noted that the pilot had requested a low pass over the runway just before the accident. While some suggest a sudden loss of altitude during a maneuver, authorities are investigating multiple possibilities, including mechanical failure, human error, or sudden wind gusts.

Emergency services, including eight firefighters and medical teams, responded to the scene around 13:50. Both men were found unconscious outside the wreckage and were later pronounced dead at a hospital in Katerini. No fire broke out upon impact.