A Canadair CL-215, twin-engine, water-bomber aircraft crashed on Saturday in Galicía near the Portuguese border, killing the pilot.
The aircraft was just one of those backing the efforts of fire fighters on the ground, combating the fire in Manín, (Lobios, Xures) which has consumed around 50 hectares of mountainside.
The Portuguese pilot, 65-year-old Jorge Jardim, died in the crash, whilst the other crew member, a 39-year-old Spanish co-pilot, was rushed to a hospital in Portugal. He was conscious when pulled out of the wreck but his conditions is described as very serious.
It appears that the aircraft hit the mountainside after attemping a manoeuvre known as ‘scooping’ which entails skimming the surface of a large body of water, taking on water to be dumped on a fire.
This particular Canadair CL-215, which was built in 1974, was owned by Babcock, which supplies fire-fighting aircraft to Portugal as well as to Spain.
Hay dos incendios, el #IFManínLobios a donde nos dirigíamos #Brif Laza y otro incendio provocado por accidente de un hidroavión que imaginamos estaría trabajando en ese incendio…El foca parece ser que es de Portugal. Nosotros bajamos donde este último. pic.twitter.com/uUgTb9GS6X
— Diario de un Bombero (@BrifLaza) August 8, 2020
(News: Lobios, Orense, Galicia – Video @BrifLaza)