A Greek Air Force plane has crashed near Kalamata airport. Pilot Epaminondas Kosteas has been confirmed as dead. Sadly his family were watching at the time as it was his last flight with the aircraft.
It is a two-seat T-2 Buckeye aircraft that originated from 120th Air Training Wing and was carrying only one crew member. The incident happened at about 11.28 in the morning as it was coming in to land.
Rescue teams cordoned off the area of the crash, where there were no buildings.
The news of the death of Deputy Commander Epaminondas Kostea was later confirmed by the Air Force General Staff, stating specifically:
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 11:28 a.m., a T-2E Buckeye aircraft of the 363rd Air Training Squadron of the 120th Air Training Wing crashed, during a training flight, half a nautical mile northwest of Kalamata airport, resulting in fatal injuries of its commander, Episminagos (I) Epaminondas Kosteas, 40 years old.
Commander (I) Sotirios Maggotsios, GEA Press Spokesman
At the scene of the crash site in the area of Ari, near Mikromani, a strong presence of fire trucks and ambulances was seen. At the point of the fall, successive explosions were heard.
