The search for his captain continues Phantom F-4 II her air forceRoy Efstatio TsitlakidisA 31-year-old who is still missing after the plane crashed into the Ionian Sea about 10 nautical miles south of Katakolo yesterday morning.

Yesterday, the co-pilot of the aircraft, sergeant Marios-Michael Turucikas29 years old, while three days of mourning has been declared since yesterday Armed forces.

An F-4 of 338 Squadron took off from the 117th Fighter Wing at Andravida as part of a training flight paired with another aircraft of the same type. The pair of F-4s were in low-altitude cruise at 300 feet above sea level. Cypress Baywhen one of the two crashed at 10:30 am. Immediately the remaining airborne aircraft began moving over the crash site, only to be quickly located by forces that rushed to search and rescue.

The co-pilot was found dead, and the search for the captain continued all night.

In practice, the forces that launched an operation to search for the wreckage of the Phantom, which was located less than two and a half hours later, were at the crash site in a matter of minutes.

The two pilots of the second Phantom have full knowledge of the crash and their testimony will be valuable in highlighting aspects of the cause investigation, which will still be ongoing.

Although it is still too early to draw any conclusions about the crash, initial reports suggest that the pilots did not have time to use their ejection seats and report a possible problem by radio. After yesterday’s crash, the number of Phantoms reliably serving under the PA flag over the past 50 years has dropped to 33.

Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the death of Lieutenant Mario-Michael Turoutsikas, who contacted the Commander-in-Chief of the Greek Army Themistocles Burolias.

“This is a tragic accident while on duty under extremely difficult training conditions. What makes P.A. in mourning. and reminds us all how difficult and dangerous the battle that our pilots fight every day to protect the air of our country. My sincere condolences to the flight commander’s family. The motherland will not forget him,” he said. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“My thoughts are with the family of the flying lieutenant, to whom we express our support and sincere condolences,” said National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos, who ordered three days of military mourning from yesterday until February 2.