A three-day military mourning was declared in the Hellenic Armed Forces, starting today until February 2, by order of the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Panagiotopoulos. The order was given after the crash of the F-4E Phantom II fighter aircraft on Monday morning, which caused the death of Flying Officer Marios – Michael Turoutsikas, while Flight Lieutenant Efstathios Tsitlakidis went missing.

In a statement, Mr. Panagiotopoulos noted: “While the search for the Flight Lieutenant continues, we express our sadness and grief for the loss of the co-pilot after the crash of the fighter jet during a training activity in Andravida.

Our thoughts are with the family of the Flight Lieutenant, to whom we express our support and sincere condolences.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to the family of Flying Officer Marios – Michael Turoutsikas, who lost his life after the fatal F4 crash in the Gulf of Kyparissia on Monday morning (30/01).

In his post, the Prime Minister states that he is shocked by the tragic incident, stressing that “it reminds us all how hard and dangerous the battle our pilots fight every day is so as to defend the skies of our country.”

The photo of the late co-pilot of the F-4 Phantom II aircraft of the 338th Squadron, Flying Officer Marios-Michael Turoutsikas, 29, was released by the Hellenic Air Force. May his memory be eternal.

Also read: Tragedy in Samos – Two dead in helicopter crash