Four Australian water-bombing helicopters and seven crew touched down at Athens International Airport ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ on Saturday morning and are now being assembled in preparation for heading out to fight wildfires across Greece.
The Russian aircraft Antonov An-124 carried the Australian water bombers to Greece after Greek industrial conglomerate, Mytilineos, contracted McDermott Aviation from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to work with them.
READ MORE: Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece.
The first two Bell 214B aerial water-bombing helicopters and supplies were loaded onto the Antonov An-124 in Wellcamp Airport in Queensland. Another two Bell 214B helicopters were loaded on the Antonov-124 in Perth.
From there, the four Australian helicopters headed off to Athens via Sri Lanka.
READ MORE: Australian water bombers en route from Perth to Athens.
“Mytilineos has proven over time that it is always present during difficult times of our country. This disaster has shocked us all. We knew that there was a need for aerial firefighting, however, there is a terrible shortage worldwide,” Vivian Bouzali, General Manager of Communications and Strategic Marketing at Mytilineos, told The Greek Herald last week.
“We did what was humanly possible and found the most advanced Erickson firefighting helicopters and brought them from Australia to Greece. Along with a crew of 20 people – pilots, engineers and even translators.
“These helicopters, with a cost of 3.3 million euros, fully covered by Mytilineos will remain in our country for two months. Until the last spark that threatens our homeland goes out. Mytilineos will also contribute both to the reconstruction of the burned areas and to the reforestation of our natural wealth.”
