20 years since the death of Kostas Iliakis: The Cretan Eagle was killed by a Turkish pilot

May 23 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Kostas Iliakis – a Greek pilot who died after a dangerous maneuver of a Turkish F-16 over the Carpathian Sea.

May 23, 2006 36-year-old pilot Hellenic Air Force Kostas Iliakis took to the skies with 115th Combat Wing at Court for another interception. It was supposed to be a normal flight. He became the last one.

On that day, Turkish fighters escorted a reconnaissance aircraft RF-4which, according to the Greek version, illegal entered Greek airspace southeast Karpathos. The purpose of the flight, as indicated, could be photographing Greek systems S-300posted on Crete.

A pair of Greeks immediately rose to intercept F-16 Block 52+. The group was led by Costas Iliakisone of the most trained pilots in Greek aviation.

Air collision over the Carpathian Sea

At about 13:20, Greek fighters discovered the Turkish group. According to audio recordings of the negotiations, Iliakis approached the Turkish RF-4while simultaneously instructing the second Greek pilot to stay behind one of the Turkish F-16.

His last words to the Operations Center were: “Kronos, the 550th is following the fat one.” I’m behind him”.

A few seconds later the Turkish pilot Ibrahim Khali made a sharp and extremely dangerous maneuver, passing over the Greek F-16. The wing of the Turkish plane hit the canopy of the Iliakis fighter’s cockpit.

Kostas Iliakis died instantly. The Turkish F-16 went into a tailspin, but Khaly managed to eject.

Tragic ending

The Greek co-pilot first reported the explosion and then transmitted: “Kronos, two F-16s collided south of Karpathos”.

Greece and Türkiye were immediately put on high alert. Greek Air Force scrambled about 40 fighters, the Turkish side – more than 80.

The Greek helicopter was the first to arrive at the scene. According to Greek data, the rescued Turkish pilot refused the help of Greek rescuers, threatened them with a pistol and was eventually handed over to the Turkish military.

A few days later on 115th Combat Wing personal belongings of Kostas Iliakis were handed over. Among them was his helmet with a distinctive crack in the back – a silent testimony to the force of the blow.

The pilot who lived by the sky

Costas Iliakis Since childhood I dreamed of airplanes. School of Icarus was his only choice.

He underwent complex tactical training, leadership programs and in 2002 became one of the few Greek pilots who trained in the United States on the then-new F-16 Block 52+.

He died doing what he dedicated his life to – defending the Greek sky.

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