National Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos announced a three-day period of mourning in the country’s armed forces on Monday.
The minister announced it after the crash of one of the Hellenic Air Force’s F-4 Phantom II jets, that crashed into the sea 25 miles south of the Andravida airport on Monday morning. The two-seater fighter jet of the 338 Squadron of the 117 Combat Wing was carrying out a training flight when it crashed.
The aircraft’s 29-year-old Flying Officer co-pilot was found dead during a search operation, it was reported late on Monday afternoon.
The search continues for the plane’s 31-year-old Flight Lieutenant pilot.
“While the search for the Flight Lieutenant continues, we express our sadness and grief at the loss of the co-pilot after the fighter jet crashed during a training activity in Andravida. Our thoughts are with the family of the Flying Officer, to whom we express our sympathy and sincere condolences,” Panagiotopoulos noted.
