#21 GREECE Green Velocity - Crash the Habit: Μικρές Ιστορίες
- EERcomt
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Παρακάτω παρατίθεται μία από τις 44 ιστοριούλες που απαρτίζουν τη συλλογή μαρτυριών από ατυχήματα σε στεριά, αέρα και θάλασσα 11 νεαρών ατόμων από διάφορα μέρη της Ευρώπης και του κόσμου.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ #21
ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΚΕΣ ΓΡΑΜΜΕΣ
by Katerina Kalafati (Greek), European Solidarity Corps; ESAI EN ROI Volunteer
ESC volunteering in teams DHIAfest campaign diffusion International Campaign
Greece|| Transportation Accident Stories
Supporting Organization: ESAI EN ROI
On 17 December 1997, an Ukrainian passenger plane from Kiev crashed in the area of Thessaloniki, killing all the passengers. An Air Force C-130, which was to have participated in the search for the plane, crashed on the border between Attica and Boeotia. In total, 75 people died in these two air accidents.
The fatal incident began to unfold at noon on 17 December 1997, when a Boeing 737 of the Ukrainian airline Aerosvit took off from Borispil airport in Kiev, bound for Thessaloniki with a stopover in Odessa. However, during the first leg of flight 241, the aircraft developed a mechanical problem and was replaced in Odessa by another Russian-built Yakovlev Yak-42. The plane took off late in the afternoon with 62 passengers (34 Greeks, 24 Ukrainians, 2 Poles and a German) and a crew of eight. The Greek passengers were employees of a Greek technical company that had undertaken projects in Ukraine and were returning home for the Christmas holidays.
The "Yakovlevlev" approached Thessaloniki airport around 9 in the evening, with relatively good weather for the season. There was dense cloud cover, but visibility was good under the clouds. Although experienced, the pilots of the aircraft failed to land it. On instructions from the control tower they headed north to attempt a new landing, but for unclear reasons the aircraft moved west-southwest and disappeared from radar.
An alert was immediately raised and an operation to find the aircraft began during the night. Initial searches were directed towards the Olympus area, but were unsuccessful. The area was literally combed by ground and air forces, including the Navy. Days passed and the Yakovlev remained missing. The accusations that are hurled in such cases about the inefficiency of the state apparatus were once again voiced.
Finally, on the morning of December 20, the mystery was solved. The plane had crashed in the Pieria Mountains, at a height of 1,006 meters, near the peak "Five Towers", 45 kilometers southwest of Thessaloniki. Its wreckage was found buried in the snow and it was obvious that none of the 70 people on board had survived. A few hours earlier, an Air Force C-130 transport plane had crashed into Mount Pastra, on the border between Attica and Boeotia, resulting in the tragic deaths of all five members of its crew. The aircraft was on its way to Tanagra to pick up cruisers who were to take part in the search for the Yakovlevlev.
The investigation of the causes of the crash of the Ukrainian plane was undertaken by the relevant committee of the Civil Aviation Service, headed by the veteran pilot and experienced investigator Akrivos Tsolakis. 11 months later it issued its findings and placed the greatest responsibility on the pilots of the plane and their failure to communicate with the control tower. It is noted that the pilots did not speak English and were flying the route for the first time.
At the same time, the judicial authorities moved and referred to trial two air traffic controllers who were on duty that fateful night at Thessaloniki airport. They accused them of not having noticed the problem in time and of not having requested the assistance of the Air Force radar, so that the accident could have been avoided. At first instance they were sentenced to five years in prison each, and their sentence was reduced by eight months at the Court of Appeal. In 2005 the Supreme Court passed the criminal part of the case, upholding the sentences of the Court of Appeal and paving the way for compensation for the victims' relatives.
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