A Canadair firefighting aircraft made an emergency sea landing in the Gulf of Corinth on Friday. Both pilots rescued. It is the second such incident in the last just three days.
The water-dropping aircraft was participating in the firefighting efforts in the Feneo forest in the mountainous Corinth, local media korinthostv.gr reported.
According to initial information, the CL215 aircraft experienced a mechanical problem during water intake and it was unable to gain height.
The two pilots managed to jump into the sea and a coast guard boat was rushing to the area to pick them up. Both pilots were in good health, state broadcaster ERT reported.
The aircraft reportedly remains stranded at sea surface supported by its floats. Citing Fire Service sources media report that they are in the process of repairing the damage in order for the Canadair to continue its work.
The incident is attributed to engine failure, after the Canadair made a landing off the shore of Vrahati, Corinth, in order to refill its water tanks.
Speaking to Star TV, the two pilots of the Canadair, members of the Greek Air Force with years-long experience in Canadair, said that there “was a problem with the left engine. We were left in the water. The plane cannot leave with one engine.”
“We were at sea at the time this happened, we were not in the air. Fortunately, the failure occurred at that point” they stressed adding that they “stayed in the aircraft for an hour and a half.”
They displayed professionalism and followed the safety procedure by the book. “The procedure was to cut the engines and stay inside. The good thing was that the sea was calm and the wave didn’t blow us out. We dropped anchor and did what we had to do,” the pilots said.
The Canadair was later towed to the port of Kiato where engineers proceeded to carry out technical checks on the aircraft.
This is the second incident of an emergency sea landing, since a water-dropping helicopter made an emergency sea landing in the gulf of Elefsina last Tuesday. Both pilots and a third person were rescued, the Ericson helicopter sank at the bottom of the sea.
