A Spanish Canadair CL-215 water bomber aeroplane (reg. EC-HET) crashed on Saturday while battling a forest fire in northern Portugal, seriously injuring both of its crew. One of the pilots later died in hospital.
The aircraft “crashed into an uninhabited mountainous area after a water loading manoeuvre,” said Commander Pedro Araujo of the National Civil Protection Authority.
Both crew members were injured and one was unconscious.
The crash also caused a small fire which was brought under control.
This aircraft was fighting a fire that broke out in the town of Lindoso, in the heart of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, in Portugal at the border with the Spanish region of Galicia.
At the time of the accident, seven Portuguese and four Spanish aircraft were trying to control the forest fire.
Compañía de Extinción General de Incendios (CEGISA) Canadair CL-215 (EC-HET, built 1974) crashed on a hillside while firefighting near Lobios, Ourense, Spain. Both pilots survived, one is in critical condition. @BrifLaza https://t.co/pf6holDEpt pic.twitter.com/4fu8GOWmrm
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) August 8, 2020
You couldn’t find a picture of a CL-215 to illustrate this? I’m sure there must be some on the web. I photographed CL-215 registration EC-HEU flying near here in central Portugal yesterday, as it happens.
You’re right. The picture has been replaced.
My heart, thoughts, and condolences go to the pilots and crew of these amazing firefighters. I used to watch them as kids and they are undersung heroes. They are some of the best pilots on this planet. It’s tragic to lose the life of someone who saves lives.
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