According to yesterday's Cyprus Mail online edition, the Discovery Channel's documentary on the Helios crash is due to be broadcast in August.
Tsolakis dismisses documentary re-enactment
By John Leonidou
THE HEAD of the Greek air accident committee, Akrivos Tsolakis, yesterday told the Cyprus Mail he was skeptical as to whether Discovery Channel’s documentary on the Helios crash, to be aired this August, would be based on the actual facts of what happened on August 14 last year.
Discovery Channel have researched and filmed the documentary on the crash, ahead of publication of Tsolakis’ final report. The documentary features interviews and a re-enactment of the crash with actors.
Last August, Cypriot airliner Helios Airways flight ZU 522 crashed outside Athens, killing all 121 passengers and crew on board.
Tsolakis said yesterday there was nothing that could be done about the documentary.
“Life goes on and we cannot stop progress and the endeavours of those channels to re-enact such things. It wouldn’t be the first time, and they have re-enacted most of the major accidents that have happened in the past.
“They should, however, have done the re-enactment after the final report had been published and not before. They should be presenting the whole event in the most proper way without resorting to the imagination.”
The Greek investigator said it was unlikely for the producers of the documentary to have a clear image of what happened.
“I don’t know if they have the information and data which is necessary for such an endeavour because this data is still under juridical protection. There is no permission given by the prosecutor to release the data which is still in our hands – and I can assure you that they are still in our hands and are guarded properly.”
He added: “If they release a story which has no data and no facts then it will be just a story.”
‘No conflicts between crash committees’
Tsolakis insisted also that there could be no possible conflict between his investigating committee and the investigating committee in Cyprus, headed by Costas Orphanos.
He added that both committees would be acting on the Greek crash report and that conflicts could simply not arise.
“Any comment on the report is welcome within the 60 days required for the report to be reviewed; if something is acceptable and we believe that it has to be included on our final report then it will be done,” said Tsolakis.
“Items that we don’t accept will just be submitted along with the final report. So everything is under the light of the sun and nothing is secret. There is the absolute right of the Cypriot board and the American board to express their views and their views will be highly respected. There is no conflict involved. We are simply trying to produce the best possible final report having heard the opinions of all the parties involved.”
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