Apparently helicopters are the getaway vehicle of choice for high-profile inmates in Greek prisons. But this time the attempt failed. Last Sunday, convicted murderer and racketeer Panagiotis Vlastos was waiting in the courtyard of Trikala Prison, about 205 miles northeast of Athens, when the chartered helicopter swooped down. It is not yet clear if the pilot and another crewmember were part of the plot, or if they were victims of a hijacking.
Two passengers opened fire on prison guards with AK-47 assault weapons as Vlastos climbed a rope to the helicopter. Another unnamed prisoner joined him, though it isn’t clear if he was part of the scheme or just seized the opportunity to escape.
