Greek Fighter Flight Instructor Recognized for Bravery and Airmanship Skills

Major Anastasios-Sotirios Palamidas, a Greek Fighter Flight Instructor in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB, Texas, has received the prestigious 80th Flying Training Wing Aviation Well Done Award for his outstanding bravery under exceptional circumstances.

With over 2500 hours of experience flying high-performance fighter jets, Major Palamidas faced a challenging situation when a bird strike caused engine failure and structural damage to a T-38 aircraft. Demonstrating remarkable airmanship skills, he successfully landed the aircraft, saving the lives of the crew and preventing millions of dollars in damage to the United States Air Force base at Sheppard AFB.

Major Palamidas's quick thinking, decisive action, and exceptional judgment during this incident have been recognized and celebrated, highlighting his exceptional professionalism and dedication to safety in the field of aviation.