The funerals of the two pilots who were killed in Spain, during a tragic Greek Air Force plane crash in Albacete, Spain took place today, Thursday January 29. Panagiotis Laskaris’ funeral took place at 12 p.m. in Rizoupoli, Athens, while Athanasios Zagas’ funeral took place in Argiroupoli, Athens, at 3 p.m. Relatives, friends and acquaintances expressed their sorrow and pain for the loss of the two young F-16 pilots and said their last goodbyes. The newly appointed Greek Minister of National Defense, Panos Kammenos attended both funerals. Panagiotis Laskaris, 35, was married and had one son. He was an experienced pilot and had completed 872 flight hours in F-16 aircrafts, out of a total of 1459 flight hours in fighter aircrafts. Athanasios Zagkas, 32, was also married and had two children, a son and a daughter. He had completed 524 flight hours in F-16 aircrafts, out of a total of 1128 flight hours in fighter aircrafts. The two pilots were killed on duty during a NATO exercise in Albacete, Spain, on January 26 when their Greek Air Force F-16 aircraft crashed into an airport hangar shortly after the take-off. The accident caused the death of 10 people — two Greek pilots and eight members of the French Air Force — and left another 19 injured. The Greek Defense Ministry said that the accident was a result of fuel retention in the engine, however, it is also being investigated as to whether the Greek pilot made a maneuver error during take-off.
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