Leaders issue condolences

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras released statements on Wednesday to mark the confirmation that Efstathios Tsitlakidis, the 31-year-old pilot of an F-4 Phantom fighter jet, died when it crashed in the Ionian Sea on Monday. Co-pilot Marios Touroutsikas, 29, was confirmed dead after his body was recovered from the aircraft’s wreckage Monday. “The grief felt by the nation is exacerbated by the news of the loss of Captain Efstathios Tsitlakidis, following that of Lieutenant Marios-Michail Touroutsikas,” said Mitsotakis in a statement released on social media. “The pilot of the fighter jet along with his co-pilot fell in the line of duty, serving his homeland. My thoughts are with the family of the flying officer. The Hellenic Air Force and the whole of Greece are mourning. Mourning and honoring,” he concluded. “I express my deepest grief over the unjust loss of the pilot of the fateful F-4 of our Hellenic Air Force, Captain Efstathios Tsitlakidis, who died in the line of duty,” said SYRIZA leader Tsipras. Authorities were still investigating the cause of the crash. The airmen had reportedly issued a distress signal and were in the process of abandoning the aircraft when it went down. Greece first acquired the US-made F-4, or Phantom fighter jets, in 1974. The funeral of Lieutenant Touroutsikas will be held in Tripoli on Thursday and will be attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. She will also attend the funeral on Friday in Nevrokopi of Captain Tsitlakidis.