Pilot Recalls ‘Ghost Plane’ Crash of Helios Airways Flight 522, Killing 115

The eerie story of Helios Airways Flight 522’s crash, in which oxygen deprivation caused a “ghost plane” catastrophe, is told by a fighter pilot.

Helios Airways Flight 522 met a tragic end on August 14, 2005, while traveling from Cyprus to Prague with a layover in Athens. Sadly, six crew members and all 115 passengers perished. The spooky circumstances of the incident made the disaster even more horrific. One of the most eerie incidences in aviation history occurred when a fighter pilot was sent to examine the silent plane and saw the terrifying events leading up to its last landing.

Not long after taking off, the Boeing 737 stopped talking. Greek authorities were frightened and sent two F-16 fighter aircraft to intercept the airliner when air traffic control failed to respond. Captain Grammatiko, one of the pilots, subsequently described the terrifying specifics of his experience with the non-responsive aircraft.

Captain Grammatiko recounted a memorable and eerie scene as he got closer to the aircraft. He recalled, “The co-pilot was slouched over the controls, and it looked like someone else was attempting to take over.” It turned out to be flight attendant Andreas Prodromou, who had somehow gotten into the cockpit in a last-ditch effort to take command of the aircraft. Unfortunately, despite Prodromou’s heroic efforts, the looming catastrophe could not be avoided in the absence of official pilot training.

Grammatiko’s account confirmed that oxygen deprivation had rendered nearly everyone aboard unconscious, creating what is known as a “ghost flight.” The plane continued flying on autopilot, with no human control, until it eventually ran out of fuel. “It’s an image I can never forget,” Grammatiko said, recalling the moment the Helios Airways Flight 522 circled helplessly before crashing into a mountain near Athens.

After hours of drifting through the sky, the plane finally exhausted its fuel, leading to its tragic descent. The fighter jets had attempted to assist but were powerless to prevent the crash. As the plane plunged into a hillside, killing everyone on board, Captain Grammatiko’s report to authorities conveyed the heartbreak of the incident. “I watched those final moments, completely helpless. It was utterly devastating,” he later remarked.

The investigation into the Helios Airways Flight 522 crash determined that a lack of cabin pressure had caused hypoxia—insufficient oxygen for brain function—rendering the passengers and crew unconscious. A critical error in the pressurization system, set manually instead of automatically, went unnoticed by the crew. As a result, the pilots were incapacitated, and the plane continued on autopilot until its tragic end.

Captain Grammatiko’s testimony was instrumental in reconstructing the final moments of Helios Airways Flight 522. His haunting recollections of the powerless passengers and the heroic but futile actions of a flight attendant are a solemn reminder of the importance of safety procedures and vigilance in aviation. The Helios Airways Flight 522 disaster remains one of the most somber events in aviation history, echoing with unanswered questions and leaving an indelible  mark on all who remember it.