The Hellenic Armed Forces have declared a three day mourning for the 34 year old pilot who died when the fighter jet Mirage 2000-5 crushed in the Aegean yesterday. Dina Gerolymou and Themis Kallos discuss the story.
According to reports, the jet was piloted by 34-year-old Captain Giorgos Baltadoros. It was one of two Mirages which departed from Skyros yesterday morning to intercept a pair of Turkish F-16s that violated Greek air space in the area between the islands of Lesvos and Chios in the Aegean.
When the Greek fighter jets arrived in the area the Turkish F-16s had already left. Baltadoros sent out a signal that the F-16s were beyond visual range. On their return to Skyros, both jets were reportedly flying at a low altitude due to poor visibility.
According to the official announcement of the Hellenic Armed Forces Baltadoros’s jet crushed at 12.15pm, local time, 9 nautical miles northeast of Skyros.
Share
