On the island of Evia, a Canadair CL-215 water-bombing plane belonging to the Greek Air Force crashed while engaged in firefighting operations, resulting in the death of both pilots. The accident occurred in Platanistos at 2:52 pm (11:52 GMT) on Tuesday.
The air force released a statement confirming the demise of the plane’s captain, aged 34, and the co-pilot, aged 27, after a search and rescue mission.
In response to the heartbreaking incident, the defense ministry declared a three-day mourning period for the loss of the Air Force officers who were courageously operating the firefighting aircraft in Evia.
Footage shared on social media by state broadcaster ERT captured the water-bombing plane in action, dropping water over the forest fire before tragically crashing into a hillside and catching fire.
This unfortunate event unfolded amidst Greece’s ongoing struggle against wildfires on multiple fronts, including tourist destinations like Rhodes and Corfu. The region is grappling with a severe heatwave that has also caused devastating fires in Algeria, claiming the lives of numerous individuals.
In addition to the wildfires, another blaze led to the temporary closure of Palermo Airport on the Italian island of Sicily. Meanwhile, an intense overnight storm struck northern regions, including Milan, causing damage and fatalities, with two women losing their lives in the affected area.