Ursula von der Leyen honors pilots killed in Greek wildfires

During her annual State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to two pilots who lost their lives while fighting wildfires in Psatha, Greece.

Von der Leyen honored Danish pilot Rune Kyndal and a Greek officer, stating, “Both, Rune and the officer, were killed. They died as heroes.” Kyndal had returned to Europe from Canada to assist with the firefighting efforts. Despite being due for a break during the peak of the emergency in July, he chose to remain on duty. He subsequently died in a tragic accident alongside the Greek pilot.

In a poignant moment during the session, the European Parliament members rose for a prolonged standing ovation. The mother of the Danish pilot, who was accompanied by her sons as special guests, was present in the chamber holding a photograph of her son.