Canadair Makes Emergency Sea Landing in Corinthia: 'An Hour and a Half in the Sea'

A Canadair CL-215 firefighting aircraft made an emergency sea landing in the Vrachati area of Corinthia, during an operation to extinguish a fire in Feneos. The two pilots are in good health and described the moments following the emergency landing.

According to one pilot, the aircraft suffered a left engine failure during water collection: 'During the last water collection for a fire in Feneos from Elefsina, unfortunately, the left engine had a problem, and we stayed in the water because the plane cannot take off with one engine.' He mentioned that they spent an hour and a half in the sea.

The other pilot added: 'The procedure is to shut down the engines and stay inside. The good thing was that the sea was calm, and the wave didn't push us out; we had the anchor, we did what we had to do with the aircraft.'

The Canadair was towed to Kiato, where it is being inspected by mechanics. The Hellenic Air Force issued an announcement regarding the incident, confirming the sea landing due to a malfunction and the safety of the crew. A team from the Mobile Underwater and Marine Installation Maintenance Team (ΚΟΣΥΘΕ) of the Air Force is investigating the incident.