Fallen air force pilot’s funeral held in Megali Mantinia, with DM Dendias and chief of staff attending

The funeral of fallen Hellenic Air Force pilot Epaminondas Kosteas, who died in the line of duty following a training aircraft crash on December 27, was held in Megali Mantinia in West Mani on Friday.

Earlier, a presidential decree issued at the recommendation of National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias had awarded the fallen Hellenic Air Force officer the rank of Lieutenant General, in line with a decision taken by the Council of Chiefs of Staff at the suggestion of Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) chief, General Konstantinos Floros.

Kosteas died of his injuries after his T-2E Buckeye training aircraft crashed during a training flight, about half a nautical mile northwest of Kalamata airport.

The funeral was attended by Dendias, General Floros, Hellenic Air Force General Staff chief Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias and other senior officers of all three branches of the armed forces, while there was also a military honour guard.