A Canadair CL-215 aircraft operated by the Hellenic Air Force crashed while battling a wildfire as part of firefighting operations in Karystos, Evia.
The incident occurred shortly before 3 PM local time on July 25, 2023, near the village of Platanistos. Footage from the incident shows the aircraft clipping a tree with its right outboard float while conducting a drop, before stalling and crashing into a mountainside.
According to the Hellenic Air Force, the aircraft belonged to the 355th Tactical Transport Squadron of the 112th Fighter Wing and was operated by a crew of two. The status of the crew members is unknown at this point. A search and rescue operation is underway.
Hit by one of the longest heat waves in recent decades, Greece is dealing with major forest fires, particularly on the islands of Rhodes and Evia. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed from France, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland as part of European mutual aid.