Cyprus commemorates the 21st anniversary of the Helios Airways tragedy

On August 14, 2005, a Boeing 737-300 operated by Helios Airways crashed near Grammatiko, Greece, resulting in the death of all 121 people on board, including 115 passengers and 6 crew members. The flight, HCY 522, was traveling from Larnaca to Prague with an intermediate stop in Athens. Among the victims were 103 Cypriot nationals, 12 Greeks, and 22 children. The disaster remains the deadliest aviation accident in the history of Cyprus.

Investigations revealed that the crash was caused by a series of failures, including improper pressurization settings and systemic safety oversights. Following a maintenance check in Larnaca, the cabin pressurization system was left in manual mode. As the aircraft climbed, oxygen deprivation led to hypoxia, rendering the crew and passengers unconscious. Although flight attendant Andreas Prodromos attempted to gain control of the aircraft while oxygen supplies were failing, the plane eventually ran out of fuel and crashed. Official reports highlighted severe deficiencies in the company's safety culture and inadequate oversight by the Department of Civil Aviation.

In February 2013, the Nicosia criminal court acquitted all defendants in the case. Today, the anniversary serves as a somber reminder for the families of the victims, who continue to seek closure and emphasize the necessity of strict aviation safety standards.