The Ministry of Defense clarified the presence of Air Force officers at the Tempi train crash site, addressing conspiracy theories.
The appearance of Hellenic Air Force officers at the site of the tragic train collision in Tempi had sparked various conspiracy theories, fueled by photos showing uniformed personnel at the scene. These speculations have now been addressed through an official response by the Ministry of National Defense.
The Ministry Dendias responded (March 21, 2025) in Parliament to a formal question submitted by Kyriakos Velopoulos, President of the political party “Helleniki Lysi”, within the framework of parliamentary scrutiny.
According to the Ministry’s response, the Air Force personnel in question were members of the Larissa Garrison and were involved in civil protection duties. They arrived at the site of the accident at approximately 10 a.m. on March 1, 2023, in accordance with Article 4 of Presidential Decree 84/2009 (Government Gazette A’ 108), which outlines the cooperation of the Armed Forces with regional and local services in emergency situations.
Their presence served multiple purposes. First, they were part of the broader support effort involving the Armed Forces in coordination with civil protection services. Secondly, they needed to obtain updates regarding the health status of a military officer and the spouse of another officer who were passengers on the train.
Additionally, the officers oversaw the setup of five tents by the Armed Forces to accommodate journalists and other personnel operating at the scene. Their mission was concluded around 3 p.m., after it was confirmed that their presence was no longer necessary.