Originally Posted by cadetdrivr (Post 3142013)

FWIW, I know of at least one pilot hired at mainline in '90 at age 21.

Originally Posted by 01pewterz28 (Post 3142024)

Gotcha again not to take away from this young couples tragic loss. and from what everyone is saying a Big loss for United. God Speed.

Originally Posted by ReadOnly7 (Post 3142083)

NTSB : Home Edition should be played elsewhere......IMHO. The cause of the event isn’t really relevant to this thread....just the outcome. I didn’t know the man, but I do know the pain of losing a family member to aviation. As pilots, we all speculate on how these things happen.....but posting it doesn’t really serve a purpose in this thread. Just my opinion. Tailwinds to the deceased, and may their loved ones find peace through this terrible time.

Originally Posted by SlatsRetract (Post 3142157)

Hey all, please consider signing for Costas.

https://www.change.org/p/embry-riddl...share_petition

Originally Posted by cadetdrivr (Post 3142013)

FWIW, I know of at least one pilot hired at mainline in '90 at age 21.

Originally Posted by EWRflyr (Post 3142010)

You took a lot of the words right out of my mouth. Costas was a close friend of mine and I was devastated getting the call on Monday night. He was a beacon of light and positivity in this world that is now extinguished. We did ALPA work together and I spoke many times at Embry-Riddle's ACE Club because he got me involved in the Education Committee while he was the Riddle coordinator for ALPA. The ease at which Costas could speak on a variety of subjects, from flying to educational-airline pathways to the threat of ME3, in front of large groups of people was impressive to see.

Beyond our work in ALPA, he and I became very close friends. The first to congratulate me on my captain bid award to supporting me during a couple of difficult times a few years ago. This was a man who I never saw in a bad mood or even a neutral mood; he was always that positive about life. We spent a few times riding around Spruce Creek Fly-In in his many year old golf cart (Costas you have to replace this thing. It's like an early Model-T or something. "But, it came with the house when the lady sold it to me and it still runs!") and going to the Downwind Restaurant for some beverages and hang out.

I, too, hadn't seen him in person since an ALPA National meeting last October, but we stayed in touch through this pandemic. I know he was in danger of furlough and hadn't flown since February, but he and Lindsey lived their lives to the fullest over the past few months and pictures he sent showed the love between these two. I was happy to hear he had proposed and intended to marry. We had talked of getting together either later this year or sometime in the spring when life seemed to get back to more normalcy. Costas said I'll take you up in the plane to remember your roots.

I was able to talk with his mother on the phone the other day. She was holding up surprisingly well and said she was sustained by all his friends and colleagues calling to share stories. I reminded her we had met in the EWR airport one evening when Costas was bringing her along on one of his trips in Europe. She was so proud and he was so excited for that chance. She said United and ALPA have been wonderful in their support.

Costas was a valued ALPA volunteer having been twice appointed the ALPA National Education Committee Chairman coordinating university outreach and overseeing 600+ pilot volunteers who visited aviation colleges to engage students on behalf of ALPA and the profession.

I don't think words can truly capture the impact Costas had on so many and me personally. He was the most accepting, warm, caring and generous individual I think I have ever met in my life. This loss hurts especially because he and Lindsay are so young. United, ALPA and the world as a whole have truly lost a remarkable human being.