AN AIR steward who desperately tried to save an Helios aircraft from crashing in August 2005, will receive a posthumous award, following a decision by the US-based Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).
According to Cyprus News Agency, the award will be received by Andreas Prodromou’s father during a special ceremony in late March in the village of Agros, to mark the establishment in Cyprus of a branch of the Flight Safety Foundation of south-eastern Europe.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, the Greek investigator into the air crash, which killed all 121 passengers and crew on board on a mountain north of Athens, Akrivos Tsolakis said the FSF had accepted his proposal to honour Prodromou for his brave efforts to save the fatal Boeing 737-300, which left Larnaca for Prague, via Athens on August 14, 2005.
“Having completed my investigations into the cause of the crash, I informed the Cypriot authorities of my intention to give Cyprus a boost in flight safety matters with the establishment of a local branch of the FSFSE,” he said, adding that this will highlight Cyprus’ location as a regional centre for air safety in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In mid-March 2009, Cyprus will host a two-day seminar, organised by the FSF, on flight safety with the participation of some 300 delegates.
This, Tsolakis noted, will put Cyprus more prominently on the flight safety map.
Responding to questions, he said Prodromou will receive “the Heroism Award”, given out by the FSF of south-eastern Europe, with the consent of the FSF, whose headquarters are in the American state of Virginia.
He said his proposal to honour Prodromou was not disputed by any of the FSF officials, on the contrary, everybody said he deserved the posthumous award.
“What this young man has done is unprecedented,” Tsolakis told CNA about Prodromou’s efforts, in the last ten minutes or so of the fatal flight, to save the aircraft from crashing into Grammatikos mountain as it was running out of fuel and was facing decompression problems, after nearly three hours of flying.
Tsolakis explained that during simulation of the flight, Prodromou was seen by pilots of two Greek F-16 fighters, sent to intercept the Boeing shortly before it crashed, wearing a portable oxygen mask. He tried to gain control of the aircraft and there were indications that he actually did it.
“In all my working life in the airline business, I have never met such a tragic figure. Never before has such an incident has taken place, this is unique,” Tsolakis told CNA, adding that he had “adopted” Prodromou as his own son who had died.
He also said that he enjoys a brotherly relationship with Prodromou’s father Dinos. “We are closer than brothers; we are friends sharing the same pain. I consider Andreas my son, emotionally and spiritually,” Tsolakis added.
Asked why the mountainous village of Agros had been chosen to host the FSF branch, he explained this was his choice as during his investigation into the crash he discovered a family with the same surname.
“I have located a family with the same name and there is a pleasant suspicion that we share the same family tree. A story that begins in 1822-1823,” he said with a smile.
Tsolakis’ engagement in this effort is no coincidence, as he has been a member of the FSF since 1979, as a captain with Olympic Airways.
The Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, organisation engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. Its mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents.
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