In the early hours of July 20, 1974, the atmosphere in Cyprus was already tense. Most citizens had gone to sleep, while the Turkish convoy was setting out from the coast of Mersin, heading toward Kyrenia.

High in the sky, Cyprus Airways pilot Adamos Marneros was flying Flight CY317 from London to Nicosia. Flying a short distance from the Turkish coast, he spotted the warships heading toward Cyprus. He was the first Cypriot citizen to witness the invasion unfolding before his very eyes, even before the Turkish fleet reached the island.

Fifty-two years later, Marneros returned to Nicosia Airport alongside journalist Giorgos Chrysanthou, describing to Alpha Cyprus the dramatic moments of those days…

He spoke of his frantic efforts to cancel the flight to Cyprus, of what happened in Cypriot airspace, and of the aircraft’s critical landing — just minutes before the first Turkish paratroopers landed near the airport.