”Helios” Cyprus air disaster trial begins

Cyprus Assize Court begins today trial of ''Helios'' 2005 air crash, which resulted in the death of all 121 passengers on the Boeing 747 bound for Prague via Athens.

Helios Airways as a legal person and four officials, Andreas Drakos Helios Executive Chairman, Demetris Panatzis Managing Director, George Kikkides Flight Operations Director and Ianco Stoimenov Chief Pilot face charges, which are included among the most serious provided under the Cypriot criminal code.

They are accused of manslaughter punishable with life sentence and cause of death by reckless, dangerous and careless action, punishable with four years imprisonment or monetary penalty or both.