In a climate of deep sorrow, the last act of the drama of the crash of the fatal F-4 Phantom in Andravida on January 30 is being written at this time, as the funeral procession of Sergeant Major Marios - Michael Turoutsikas, the guardian of Archbishop Hieronymos, is taking place. Earlier, the coffin covered with the Greek flag arrived at the Holy Church of Prophet Ilias in Tripoli. The President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is accompanied by the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos and the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Alexis Tsipras, are present.
His parents are now saying their last goodbyes.
The mother, devastated at this moment, talks about the loss of her son Died for his country, Immortal, she said with sobs
"You don't know how a cynic like me gave birth to such a person. Marios had managed to annihilate fear from his vocabulary there was only you. I pray for the homeland to remember him" said his father, crying
The coffin with the body of the sergeant-major, carried by his friends, passed in front of the lined-up pilgrims, and to the sound of prolonged applause and mournful hymns, it was led to the church.
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Tragic figures are the family of Mario-Michael Turoutsikas, his parents and his brothers who are there, along with relatives and a multitude of friends. Hearts were broken when the parents approached and briefly touched the coffin.
The coffin was carried on his shoulders by his friends.
His burial will take place in the cemetery of Agios Ioannis Pikerniou.
Tomorrow, Friday, the funeral of 31-year-old squadron leader Stathis Tsitlakidis will take place in Nevrokopi.
The funerals are with honors of the vice-captain
It should be noted that the pilots of the fatal F-4 Phantom will be honored with the rank of lieutenant general, by decision of the leadership of the Armed Forces.
Yesterday, with its announcement, the General Staff of Aviation, after analyzing the findings, confirmed the death of Squadron Leader Stathis Tsitlakidis, commander of the fatal F-4 Phantom.
"The search and rescue operations to locate the pilot of the F-4E Phantom II aircraft, Sminagos (I) Efstathios Tsitlakides, have been completed. {…} The gathering and analysis of the findings confirmed his death."
At the same time, investigations into the causes of the crash of the F-4E Phantom continue.
In the investigations into the causes of the accident, the scenarios are:
mechanical failure
human error
random event
Under the "microscope" of the experts, there are:
"cassette": picture & sound
pilot deposits
Source: First Topic