A firefighting aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in the sea near the New Port of Astakos, Aitoloakarnania, Greece. The plane, an AIR TRACTOR type, had taken off from Aktio Airport at 20:10 on August 16, 2026.
The pilot is reported to be in good health and was rescued by a vessel from the Hellenic Coast Guard. The incident is currently being reported, and no further details have been released regarding the cause of the emergency landing.
This incident comes amidst recent fires in the region, including a fire in Salamina that resulted in tragic losses. However, it is not clear if this aircraft was involved in firefighting efforts related to that specific incident.
The Hellenic Coast Guard and relevant authorities are likely to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing. For now, the pilot’s safe rescue is the primary concern, and an investigation will likely follow to determine the cause of the incident.
Article and image source: ethnos.gr