Mystery surrounds Cypriot plane crash as 121 feared dead
(14.08.2005)

A Cypriot plane with 121 people on board crashed into a mountain as it approached Athens. There are believed to be no survivors.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the Helios Airways Boeing 737 and it was being escorted by F-16 jets. According to reports, the pilot was not in the cockpit and the co-pilot was slumped over the controls.

The F-16 pilots also said that they could see that the oxygen masks had dropped down in the aircraft and a witness said "I saw many bodies scattered around, all of them wearing masks"

It would appear that the oxygen supply or pressurization system malfunctioned and this may have been the reason for the crash.

Greek authorities do not believe that terrorists were involved in the crash and deny that the plane was shot down by the Greek F-16's.

An investigation into the crash will begin shortly.

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