Inmate Hit By Gunfire, Fell From The Departing Aircraft

A convicted killer used a helicopter to make his fourth escape attempt from a prison about 205 miles northwest of Athens. But he was hit by gunfire that eventually brought down the aircraft in the prison's parking lot.

The helicopter was reportedly chartered and had two armed people on board along with the pilot and a flight technician. The Associated Press reports that they initially tried to use a grappling hook in an attempt to pull down a wire enclosure, but when that did not work, they lowered a rope to Panagiotis Vlastos, a convicted murderer and racketeer serving a life sentence.

The armed passengers used AK-47 rifles to fire on the prison guards, who returned fire at the aircraft. Authorities reportedly recovered over 500 bullets from the helo after it landed in the prison parking lot. During the escape attempt, Vlastos was reportedly hit by gunfire, and fell about 10 feet out of the aircraft into the prison courtyard. One of the flight crew was also hit by the gunfire.

It was not immediately clear if the flight crew was part of the plot or had been coerced by the passengers to help in the escape attempt. A flight plan from Athens to Thessaloniki in northern Greece was filed, but the aircraft deviated from that flight plan to fly to the prison. Authorities said there were "improvised explosive devices" on board as well that were not used.

Helicopters have been used to help inmates escape from prison twice in the past. One of those escapees remains at large. This is the first time such an attempt has been unsuccessful.

FMI: www.ministryofjustice.gr/site/en/Leadership/Greetings.aspx