Funeral of Greek Air Force Pilot Dimitris Petrou Postponed

The funeral of 37-year-old Greek Air Force Squadron Leader Dimitris Petrou, who died in the tragic F-4 Phantom crash during Athens Flying Week on Saturday, September 5, has been postponed.

The funeral service had been scheduled for noon on Tuesday, September 8, in Ioannina. However, authorities have not yet completed the identification of the remains of the two pilots killed in the crash, Petrou and 40-year-old Ioannis Blesias.

Nikos Vaitsis, mayor of North Tzoumerka, said the postponement resulted from procedural matters that remain ongoing. Authorities have already taken a DNA sample from Petrou’s father to assist with the identification of his remains.

The Greek Armed Forces have declared three days of mourning in memory of the two airmen who lost their lives in the crash.

He had recently become a father

The tragedy has also brought an especially painful personal story to light. Petrou, 37, had recently become a father to a five-month-old baby girl.

The family had planned to baptise the baby on Saturday, September 12, in Katsikas, Ioannina. What should have been a day of celebration has now become one of profound grief for the family.

The experienced pilot’s hometown is mourning his loss, while his family and the authorities await the completion of the identification procedures and the investigation into the circumstances that led to the fighter jet’s crash.

The post Funeral of Greek Air Force Pilot Dimitris Petrou Postponed appeared first on Greek City Times.

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