Salvage efforts begin for fatal Mirage 2000-5

According to ekriti.gr, an HCMR vessel will sail in the following hours, with a final destination in the sea area of ​​Skyros and the point where the Mirage 2000-5 of the 331 Squadron crashed.

According to ekriti.gr, the last details of the operation are being drawn up, as the Hellenic Air Force will, in cooperation with the relevant bodies, attempt to "get answers" on the causes that led to the air tragedy and the loss of an experienced aviator, but also one of the two most modern types of fighter aircraft in its arsenal.

According to press reports, the Ministry of National Defense commissioned this project with the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (EL.KE.THE), signing a contract for 400,000 euros.

In particular, following a report by the 114 Combat Wing in Tanagra, where the MIRAGE 2000 and MIRAGE 2000-5 aircraft are based, the need was described for locating, retrieving and lifting the parts of the aircraft (weighing up to two (2) tons) "Primarily and principally for the protection of the essential security interests of the country", for the following reasons:

It is necessary to immediately collect the vital parts of the aircraft so as to clarify the causes of the accident in order to ensure the safe operation of the air vehicles of the same type.
There are inelastic time limits in terms of the operating / lifetime limits of flight data recorders and the operating limit of positioning devices due to corrosion of critical parts / components in order to investigate the causes of the accident.
In the event of non-direct examination of the parts of the aircraft to identify the causes of the accident and the uninterrupted continuation of the flight, additional inspections and maintenance work are required, with an impact on the availability of the same type of aircraft ".

As stated in the decision, signed by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Charalambos Psimoulis, "it is important to ensure the safe airworthiness of this type of aircraft, since it contributes crucially to safeguarding and defending the airspace and, in general, the mission of the Air Force and, by extension, the Armed Forces. "

This operation is awaited by the members of the investigative committee set up from the very first moment of the event so that the Hellenic Air Force officers will have at their disposal all available items. The aircraft itself is the most important part of the puzzle, which (the bulk of it) is at a depth of 800 meters while its fragments are "spread out" in a radius of 400 meters.

The information says that in this mission, the HCMR researchers will use their sound and unmanned underwater vehicles to reach the fighter, record it and then - if possible - bring it up. There are many difficulties, however the skilled and well-trained staff guarantee the result, which is a "wager" for all participants.