The Hindu : International : 121 die as Cypriot plane crashes near Athens

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Monday, Aug 15, 2005

International

International

121 die as Cypriot plane crashes near Athens

Pilots found slumped unconscious over the controls before crash

GRISLY REMAINS: This video image shows a rescue vehicle near the tail piece of the Cypriot airliner that crashed north of Athens on Sunday. — PHOTO: AP

GRAMMATIKO (GREECE): A Cypriot airliner ploughed into a hill north of Athens on Sunday, killing all 121 persons on board, Greek officials said. Reports said the pilots were unconscious when the plane went down, possibly because of a lack of oxygen in the cabin.

The Helios Airways flight HCY 522 was headed from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Athens International Airport when it crashed at about 12:20 p.m. local time near this coastal town, about 40 km north of the Greek capital.

The Boeing 737 was due to fly onto Prague, Czech Republic, after stopping in Athens.

Cause unclear

Fire chief Christos Smetis said there were no survivors among the 115 passengers and six crew on board the plane. ``The fire is still burning and there are no survivors.''

The cause of the crash was unclear, but first indications were that it was apparently due to some type of technical problem — possibly decompression.

A spokesman for the Cyprus Government said in Nicosia that there were no signs it was a terrorist attack.

Greece's Alpha television channel said that Greek air force officials reported that the pilots of two F-16 jet fighters that intercepted the plane over the Aegean Sea shortly before it crashed saw the two pilots slumped unconscious over the controls. They also reported that there was no movement in the cabin.

The two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled shortly after the plane entered Greek air space over the Aegean Sea and did not respond to radio calls. It is standard Greek air force procedure to intercept any aircraft entering the country's airspace that do not respond to radio calls.

Witnesses said they saw the plane being followed by the Greek air force jets when it crashed.

Greek radio and television stations reported that the air force pilots saw no movement in the cockpit of the plane before the crash.

The only piece of the plane that remained intact was the tail section of the jet and debris was strewn in a chasm and surrounding hills. The tail was resting on a dirt road, the wreckage was strewn over the hill and into the ravine.

Bits of human flesh, clothing, and luggage were scattered around the wreckage, which also started brush fires around the area. — AP

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