Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-29

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Second pilot in Thursday's F-16 collision dies

[01] Second pilot in Thursday's F-16 collision dies

Flight Lt. Sifis Anastasakis, 36, died at the Irakleio hospital's ICU after sustaining life-threatening injuries in the collision, which left another pilot dead. A third pilot sustained milder injuries and is recuperating.

Condolences, meanwhile, poured in on Sunday from the country's political leadership, including President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister George Papandreou, DM Evangelos Venizelos and others.

"It was with great sadness that I was informed of the death of Lt. Iosif Anastasakis. Let his dedication to duty and heroism live forever inscribed in our memory, with a wish that we will not need to again mourn for our pilot officers," a statement by Papoulias read.

Meanwhile, a funeral for the other fatally injured pilot took place on Sunday in the NW city of Arta. Flight Lt. Anastasios Balatsoukas, 33, was laid to rest in his home town. Alternate DM Panos Beglitis represented the government.

A period of mourning in the armed forces was extended by two days.

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