Pilot’s wife was to move back to Cyprus in April

Dubai: Shock is what unites the friends of Lara, wife of Captain Aristos Sokratous of flydubai flight FZ981. 

 

“We had a farewell lunch on Thursday, and Friday was Lara’s last day at work, but little did I know that I would see her the next day, again,” said N.K, a close friend and colleague. She wanted to withhold her full name for reasons of privacy.

 

Sokratous and Lara were set to move back to Cyprus next month, where they would start their new life with their baby boy, who is due any time now. N.K said: “We said goodbye and hugged, but Lara said that this is not the end, and that we must go to Europe and visit her.” 

 

At work she has the reputation of being the “sunshine”, as she always spread positivity, no matter how hectic the work got. “She would try to look at things positively and push us,” said N.K. 

 

An outgoing personality

 

Another friend, who wanted to stay anonymous, said that she remembers Lara as a very “bubbly person; one who is warm hearted and genuine”. Likewise, she says that Sokratous, too, had an outgoing personality. “Both of them seemed to be in a happy place.” 

 

Indeed, Friday was a happy day, but then came Saturday, and the end of their dreams. As soon as the news broke, close friends and family rushed Lara to the hospital, considering the fact that she is pregnant and close to her due date, checking up on the baby was top priority. 

 

“The doctor said that the baby is doing fine, but she needs peace and time to deal with this her own way,” she added. 

 

N.K. recalled Lara shopping for her unborn baby and making the last preparations ahead of their move back home. 

 

“At work, she was nicknamed ‘Lara Kroft’ or just ‘Kroftie’, and she would always laugh.” Friends and colleagues are shocked over the fate of Sokratous and Lara. 

“Due to his line of work, he would come and pick her up from work whenever he had the chance to, and it would make her so happy that she would always announce it loudly,” said N.K. 

 

She remembers one instance in which Sokratous had come to pick Lara up from work and was helping her carry a few heavy things and her first impression of him was that he was a “bright and amazing” person. 

 

“Lara was always happy and content with whatever quality time she got to spend with Sokratous, and would sometimes even ask for movie suggestions ahead of their movie nights. However, she did not want anyone to suggest horror movies to her unless Sokratous was at home.”