The two Hellenic Air Force aviators who died after their F-16 fighter aircraft crashed during take-off from the Los Llanos airbase in Albacete, Spain, were experienced pilots with more than 1,000 flight hours.

First-Lt. Panagiotis Laskaris, 35, was married and the father of a little boy. He had 1,459 flight hours logged in fighter aircraft, 872 hours of which were recorded for the F-16.

First-Lt. Athanasios Zagras, 31, was married and the father of a little boy and girl. He had 1,128 flight hours logged in fighter aircraft, 524 hours of which in F-16.

1st Lt. Laskaris

1st Lt. Zagras

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The two fallen pilots and 39 HAA members participated in the 1st Educational Air Series for 2015, called the “Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP)”, at the Spanish base.

They were scheduled to remain on Spanish territory for about a month.

The programme was to last from Monday the January 19 until February 13, 2015.