24th anniversary of the Kouklia helicopter crash

On July 10, 2002, a National Guard helicopter crashed in the village of Kouklia, Cyprus, during a night training mission. The aircraft was traveling from Lakatamia to the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos. All five personnel on board were killed in the incident. The victims included National Guard Chief Evangelos Florakis, Air Force Commander Stylianos Demenegas, Squadron Leader Paris Athanasiadis, Lieutenant Commander Nikolaos Georgiou, and Captain Michalis Siakallis. At 4:20 a.m., the crew maintained normal communication with the Paphos control tower before a reported mechanical failure occurred. Attempting an emergency landing, the helicopter exploded upon contact with the ground, leading to the deaths of all passengers. The incident remains a significant event in Cypriot history, with national commemorations held to honor the victims.