An unprecedented accident at the civil airport of Araxos in western Greece, sent three reporters injured to the hospital on Friday. They were covering an official event.

The accident occurred when a boarding ladder made available for journalists were collapsed and they fell on the ground. A total of ten people hit the ground from a height of three meters, state broadcaster ERT reported.

Moments of panic prevailed at the scene with bystanders calling for doctors.

One journalist is considered seriously injured and is expected to undergo surgery at the Patras University Hospital on Saturday. The other two injured, a photojournalist and a cameraman, have minor injuries and are also hospitalized.

The accident occurred during the ceremony for the first flight of the TUI Boeing 737-8 aircraft, which bears the name “Patra” as part of a promotion initiative for Western Greece.

According to local media tempo24.gr, company officials, acted in a completely careless manner, “led” journalists, photojournalists and cameramen to a boarding ladder, believing that they could secure better shots… from above. Eight people literally “climbed” it, but the result was nightmarish. According to testimonies, the support base was missing from the infrastructure (ladder), with the result that it gave way and everyone who had climbed up fell into the void.

Despite the accident, the ceremony, was completed as planned, in the presence of German Ambassador to Greece, Andreas Kindle, the President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Angeliki Varela and local dignitaries. [Phew!]

One of the reporters told ERT that both the Greek officials as well as the TUI personnel insisted that the ceremony continues even thought the journalists were still on the ground. “That was outrageous,” the woman stressed.

Authorities investigate the incident.