Transport Minister Evie Tsolaki commemorates 21st anniversary of 2005 Helios air disaster
Transport Minister Evie Tsolaki attended a memorial service on Sunday marking the 21st anniversary of the 2005 Helios air disaster, emphasizing that the pain felt by victims' families remains part of Cyprus's collective memory. The tragedy occurred on August 14, 2005, when Helios Airways Flight 522 from Larnaca to Prague suffered cabin depressurization, causing hypoxia among passengers and crew.
The flight continued on autopilot as a "ghost flight" before crashing near the village of Grammatiko after running out of fuel, resulting in 121 fatalities. Tsolaki stressed the importance of linking the memory of the disaster to the state's responsibility for aviation safety, highlighting that safety is the top and non-negotiable priority in air transport.
She reiterated that all rules, procedures, and control mechanisms in the transport sector exist solely to protect human life, which must never be compromised. The minister's remarks serve as a solemn reminder of the ongoing commitment to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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