Η πιλότος είπε ότι η πτήση αργεί λίγο λόγω ομίχλης.

Because πιλότος is a noun that can be used for either a male or a female pilot. The article shows the gender here:

• ο πιλότος = the male pilot
• η πιλότος = the female pilot

So in this sentence, η tells you the pilot is a woman. This is something that often surprises English speakers, because the noun ending alone does not always tell you the gender.

You may also hear πιλότισσα for a female pilot, but η πιλότος is very common and standard.

Είπε means said.

It is the aorist form of λέω (to say / to tell), specifically:

• λέω = I say
• είπε = he/she said

This is a very common irregular verb, so the past form does not look much like the dictionary form. Greek learners usually just have to get used to:

• λέω → είπα / είπε

In this sentence, είπε is 3rd person singular, so it means she said.

Ότι introduces what was said. It means that:

• Η πιλότος είπε ότι...
• The pilot said that...

It connects the main clause to the reported statement.

A useful note: ότι here is the conjunction that, not ό,τι with a comma-like accent pattern, which means whatever / anything that.

Yes. In many cases, ότι and πως can both mean that after verbs like λέω.

So you could also say:

• Η πιλότος είπε πως η πτήση αργεί λίγο λόγω ομίχλης.

That would mean the same thing.

Very roughly:

• ότι can feel a bit more formal or careful in writing
• πως is also extremely common in everyday language

Both are normal.

Because Greek does not always shift tenses backward the way English often does in reported speech.

English often does this:

• She said that the flight was a little late.

But Greek can keep the verb in the present if the speaker presents the situation as still current or generally valid:

• είπε ότι η πτήση αργεί = she said that the flight is late / is running late

So this is normal Greek. The delay is being presented as an ongoing situation.

Here αργεί means is late, is running late, or is delayed.

The verb is αργώ, which often means to be late. With things like buses, trains, flights, or people, it commonly has that sense:

• Το λεωφορείο αργεί. = The bus is late.
• Η πτήση αργεί. = The flight is late.

So although the basic idea is related to lateness, in natural English here you would often translate it as the flight is delayed.

Λίγο means a little, a bit, or slightly.

Here it modifies αργεί:

• αργεί λίγο = is a little late
• is running a bit late

So it softens the statement. The delay is not being presented as very serious.

Λόγω means because of or due to.

So:

• λόγω ομίχλης = due to fog
• because of fog

This is a very common, slightly formal or neutral way to give a reason.

Compare:

• λόγω βροχής = due to rain
• λόγω προβλήματος = due to a problem
• λόγω ομίχλης = due to fog

Because λόγω takes the genitive case.

The basic form is:

• η ομίχλη = the fog

But after λόγω, Greek uses the genitive:

• ομίχλης = of fog

So:

• λόγω ομίχλης = due to fog

This is a very common pattern:

• λόγω της κακοκαιρίας = due to the bad weather
• λόγω κίνησης = due to traffic
• λόγω ομίχλης = due to fog

Both are possible.

• λόγω ομίχλης
• λόγω της ομίχλης

The version without the article is very common, especially when speaking generally or using a reason almost like an abstract cause: due to fog.

The version with the article can sound a bit more specific: due to the fog.

So in this sentence, λόγω ομίχλης is perfectly natural.

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

The sentence as given is neutral and natural:

• Η πιλότος είπε ότι η πτήση αργεί λίγο λόγω ομίχλης.

But Greek can move parts around for emphasis. For example, you might hear:

• Η πιλότος είπε ότι λόγω ομίχλης η πτήση αργεί λίγο.
• Η πιλότος είπε ότι η πτήση λόγω ομίχλης αργεί λίγο.

These are still understandable, but the original version is the most straightforward for a learner.

So the answer is:

• not completely fixed
• but the given order is a very normal default order

Η πτήση is feminine singular nominative.

• πτήση = flight
• η πτήση = the flight

It is the subject of αργεί, so Greek uses the nominative case.

That is why you see η here, just as you do in η πιλότος. In this sentence, both nouns are feminine singular subjects:

• Η πιλότος = the pilot
• η πτήση = the flight