During firefighting efforts in Samos, Greece, a leased Mil Mi-8 crashed into the Aegean Sea, west of the island on July 13th. Two of the helicopters crew of four have been confirmed lost after two of the crew, the Romanian Captain and a Moldovan crew member were rescued by a nearby boat and have been transported to hospitals. The crew was comprised of one Romanian captain, two Moldovans, and one Greek crew member who acts as an interpreter to assist with coordination with Greek authorities.
The Mi-8 type helicopter is registered in Ukraine and was working under contract with the Hellenic Fire Service through NATO’s NSPA service for this year’s firefighting season like many other contractors from Europe and as far away as Australia.
“The Hellenic Fire Service expresses its sorrow for the loss of the two members of the four-member crew which crashed yesterday in the sea area of Samos during an aerial firefighting operation. The causes of the accident are being investigated,” Ioannis Artopoios, spokesperson of the Hellenic Fire Service, told local news service Balkan Insight.
The helicopter is believed to have crashed shortly after takeoff from Samos in extremely high wind conditions.
