Its governor is also dead Phantom her air forcewhich fell on Monday morning in the Ionian Sea, about 10 nautical miles south of Katakolo, as announced on Wednesday. aviation general staff.

It’s about the squadron leader Efstatio Tsitlakidis31 years old, to establish the identity of which investigative actions were carried out for two days.

GEA announcement:

“The General Aviation Headquarters announces that today, Wednesday, February 1, 2023, search and rescue operations to locate the pilot of the F-4E Phantom II aircraft, Sminagos (I) Efstathios Tsitlakides, 31, after the plane crash on January 30, 2023, 25 nautical miles south of Andravida Airport. The collection and analysis of the finds confirmed his death.”

The day before yesterday, the co-pilot of the aircraft, senior sergeant, was found dead. Marios-Michael Turucikas29 years.

As noted “TO” from the first moment, the two operators did not have time to use their ejection seats, which is reinforced by the fact that no remains of the parachute were found.

Already a number of experts publicly attributed to the accident note that the possibility of losing control of the aircraft during closed maneuvers performed by a pair of two Phantoms taking off from the 117th Fighter Wing in Andravida, as part of a low-altitude exercise, should not be ruled out.

Small sea exercises are conducted at 300 feet (ie, about 100 meters) above sea level, and their main scenario is to simulate flight “below the radar” during the pursuit and bombardment.

In any case, despite the first, initial assessments, the conclusion about the tragic incident will be made only after a thorough investigation that will follow.