ˌɔn twˈɛnti tˈuː dʒuːlˈaɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː pˈiːpəl wɜː kˈɪld baɪ fɹˈɛndli fˈaɪɚ wɛn fˈɪftiːn ˈeɪdʒɪŋ nˈoːɹd nˈoːɹætləz ʌvðə ɡɹˈiːk θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ tɹˈænspoːɹt skwˈɑːdɹən wɜːɹ ɐsˈaɪnd tʊ ˈɛɹlɪft ɐ ɡɹˈiːk kəmˈændoʊ fˈoːɹs tə pɹətˈɛkt ðɪ ˈɛɹpoːɹt fɹʌmðɪ ɪnvˈeɪdɪŋ tˈɜːkɪʃ tɹˈuːps.
On 22 July 1974, 33 people were killed by friendly fire when 15 ageing Nord Noratlas of the Greek 354 Transport Squadron were assigned to airlift a Greek commando force to protect the airport from the invading Turkish troops.