A military court in Nicosia has found a National Guard commando sergeant guilty of causing the death of 27-year-old Panagiotis Gianniou, who died during a training exercise in June 2022 after falling from a helicopter into the sea.
The incident occurred during the Helocast exercise off the coast of Lara, in Paphos district, involving an Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter. According to the court’s findings, the sergeant- acting as the designated drop leader- gave Gianniou the command to jump at an unsafe moment, without authorisation and while the aircraft was flying at a height and speed far exceeding safe parameters.
Gianniou’s fatal jump was scheduled for the second of four helicopter passes, following a test run. However, during the first pass, the sergeant reportedly pulled the young commando towards him, gave him a short verbal instruction, and Gianniou jumped. Witnesses onboard- including a videographer and the cabin commander- described widespread confusion and alarm, as no authorisation had been given. One member of the crew reportedly told the pilot: “He messed up,” referring to the unauthorised command.
After the fall, the helicopter made a second pass, during which the sergeant- now with permission- jumped into the sea and retrieved Gianniou’s unconscious body. Shouting “Wake up, Gianniou!”, he attempted to revive him, but the injuries were fatal.
The court examined 25 witness testimonies, including fellow soldiers, aviation crew, and specialists. Only the testimony of the defence’s neurologist- who proposed an alternative explanation for Gianniou’s cause of death- was dismissed. The evidence presented by the forensic pathologist and medical examiner was accepted in full.
The court ruled that the sergeant had acted “recklessly and irresponsibly,” failing to obtain the necessary authorisation from the cabin commander, who in turn would have relied on input from the helicopter pilot. Only the pilot had knowledge of the aircraft’s exact altitude and speed, critical factors for determining the safety of a jump.
“The defendant’s actions created a dangerous and uncontrolled situation,” the court stated. “His conduct was the direct cause of death.” It further ruled that the command was issued in violation of both training protocols and military chain of command, rejecting the defence’s claim that Gianniou may have jumped of his own volition due to confusion.
Several witnesses recalled the shocked expressions of all onboard, including the cabin crew and videographer, after Gianniou fell prematurely. The defence’s suggestion that Gianniou acted independently was undermined by multiple testimonies affirming that the drop leader gave him a direct instruction.
During Thursday’s hearing, the sergeant’s defence team pleaded for leniency, citing his years of service and lack of intent. However, the prosecution argued that a trained professional in such a critical role bears full responsibility for adhering to safety protocols.
The courtroom was packed for the verdict, which closed a painful chapter for Gianniou’s fellow soldiers and grieving family. One colleague remarked, “He wasn’t just a fellow commando, he was family.”
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 26 June, when the court will consider mitigating circumstances before determining the sergeant’s penalty.
Also read: Sergeant found guilty over death of Panagiotis Gianniou
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