RELATIVES of the 121 people who died in the Helios air crash two years ago today left the island for Greece yesterday to attend a memorial service at Grammatiko, the area outside Athens where the plane went down.
The 120 relatives travelled to Greece on two flights. Nicos Yiasoumis the head of the committee representing the Helios relatives, said once in Greece they would be joined by the relatives of Greek nationals who died in the crash, as well as with some of the victims Cypriot relatives who live in Athens.
Yiasoumis said there would be a memorial service in the local church in Grammatiko this morning, which would continue at the crash site. He said the relatives that would not be travelling to Greece would have memorial services in Cyprus.
Yiasoumis said he had only one message to impart on behalf of the relatives. “Two years since that tragic day and justice has still not been served,” he said, adding that it was the least that could be done to honour the 121 victims who died that day.
The Helios relatives are suing the Republic for negligence and omissions they say led to the crash of a Boeing. Their legal action is specifically targeted at the Department of Civil Aviation, which they accuse of cutting corners when it came to air safety.
A criminal investigation, launched days after the accident, is still ongoing and in the meantime some of the relatives have filed lawsuits against Boeing and now-defunct Helios in Greece, while a small number have settled out of court.
On Sunday after attending a memorial service for the victims in Nicosia, President Tassos Papadopoulos said that responsibilities would be attributed to those who would be found guilty for the crash.
“Today, we are still shocked by this unprecedented tragedy that hit Cyprus and we pay tribute to all 121 innocent victims who lost their lives. As I had pledged from the beginning, the incident was investigated in depth. The investigation continues, and responsibilities, where due, will be attributed,” he said.
“All that was needed to be done has been completed. What matters now is the right preparation of the cases. We want to avoid the possibility that cases against those guilty are dismissed due to lack of full investigation.”
Commenting on the new lawsuits filed by the relatives, Papadopoulos said they were welcome to do so.
“There is no discontent or bitterness. On the contrary, the relatives’ action is welcomed. If it is proven at Court that there is responsibility, this would help the government to punish those responsible, and continue the effort that began in 2003 for the modernisation and better function of the Civil Aviation Department,” he said.
