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Air tanker crashes in Greece, crew rescued

Last flight of VH-FBZ airplane crash air tanker
Last flight of VH-FBZ, an Air Tractor 802F Fire Boss, August 5, 2022.

On August 5 a single engine air tanker, an Air Tractor 802F Fire Boss, crashed and sank in the Gulf of Elefsina while working on a fire near Nea Peramos in Greece. It occurred about 12 miles west of Athens as the air tanker was scooping water. Both crew members were rescued.

The Fire Boss, registration VH-FBZ, was operated by Pays Air Service in Australia. It was one of a number of aircraft that migrated from Down Under to assist in Greece during the Northern Hemisphere fire season.

Air Tractor 802 Fire Boss, Conair Tanker 88
File photo of an Air Tractor 802 Fire Boss. This is not the aircraft that crashed. Photo by Larry Belzac.

NATO sends air support for Fires in Greece

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has deployed 40 aircraft to assist Greece with their wildfires. This is the 11th year in a row that the NSPA has reinforced the firefighting air fleet in Greece.

This will include 29 firefighting helicopters (9 Heavy Lift and 20 Medium Lift). And, for the first time, 11 fixed wing airplanes will be available to actively support firefighters on the ground.

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  1. Two crew members?


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