Summary
Highlights
The Initial Emergency00:00:00
Helios Airways Flight 522 experiences a series of mysterious alarms shortly after takeoff. Cabin oxygen masks deploy as the flight crew struggles to troubleshoot pressurization issues, eventually losing communication with ground control.
Ghost Plane and Fighter Jet Intervention00:05:03
With the plane unresponsive, the Greek Air Force scrambles fighter jets. They observe a person slumped in the cockpit and others motionless in the cabin, leading to the realization that the flight is effectively a ghost plane.
The Tragic Conclusion00:06:17
After running out of fuel, the plane crashes north of Athens. Investigators later discover that flight attendant Andreas Prodromou, a trained diver, had attempted to take control of the aircraft using portable oxygen bottles before the final impact.
Investigation Findings00:07:06
Official reports reveal that a ground maintenance check left the cabin pressurization switch in manual mode. This led to hypoxia, incapacitating the crew and passengers early in the flight, leaving the aircraft to fly on autopilot until it ran out of fuel.