The workers’ delegation met in Geneve for the ILO Global Dialogue Forum on Civil Aviation, representing all categories of aviation workers from all over the world would like to declare our support for aviation professionals, whose life and career are being devastated by the unprecedented criminalization of an air accident.
Capt. lanko Stoimenov is a Bulgarian pilot with long international flying and management experience, who served world aviation safety from the Board of the Governors of Flight Safety Foundation and contributed for the establishment of unique European ATM Performance Monitoring System. At the time of accident of Helios 522, on the 14 August 2005, he was B737 Chief Pilot within the airline.
Since 2008 our colleague is subject to overzealous criminal prosecution in two European countries Greece and Cyprus, under the same charges. Following closely the on-going procedures, we are alarmed that the adopted practices do not reflect a fair justice system or a fair trial.
These events are alarming and we are very concerned that the brutal criminalization of this accident in Greece is entirely built on the ICAO Annex 13 accident investigation report of the Greek AIB, which is in contradiction with the spirit of ICAO Annex 13 and EU regulation 996/2010.
More than that, the charges against Capt. Ianko Stoimenov are based on an investigation report, which is grossly incorrect. Solid evidence disproving the adopted accident scenario and submitted by top leading experts in accident investigation are being ignored.
We are also very concerned by the fact that the two decisions of the First Instance Court and the Court of Appeal, show complete misunderstanding of the legal frame defining airline operation and flight crew licensing.
Knowing that the case is now expected to be addressed by the competent level of the Greek Supreme court, we plead that Capt. Ianko Stoimenov is given a fair trial, based on facts derived by qualified and independent expert opinion, analysis of all available exhibits and competent interpretation of the air law for the attainment of the objective truth and delivery of justice.
We do this declaration in the name of justice and aviation safety.