Larnaca: Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, assured on Saturday that the state recognizes the moral obligation to stand by the relatives of the victims of the Helios air tragedy. Speaking during a memorial service in Misfiloti village, within the Larnaca district, held in memory of the victims of the air disaster, Christodoulides emphasized his government’s commitment to implementing decisions to support those affected, especially those who suffered losses due to the financial crisis of 2013. He noted that this process has already begun and promised special arrangements for the victims of this tragedy.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the ceremony was attended by relatives and friends of the victims, representatives of the State, and a large crowd, creating an atmosphere of deep emotion. President Christodoulides honored the memory of the 121 victims of the ill-fated flight, acknowledging that despite 20 years having passed since the tragedy, the pain remains intense, the wound unhealed, and the questions continue to torment.
He commended the strength and dignity shown over the years by the relatives of the victims, making special mention of those who stood by the orphaned children. The Helios Airways crash on August 14, 2005, resulted in the greatest aviation disaster for Greece and Cyprus, with the death of 121 people.
The Boeing 737-31S flight HCY 522, traveling from Larnaca to Prague with a stop in Athens, crashed in the mountainous region of Grammatiko, Attiki. All 115 passengers, including 22 children, and six crew members died in the crash. Twelve of the passengers were from Greece.