Russian firefighting plane crashes in Turkey, eight killed

Eight people were killed when a Russian firefighting Be-200 plane crashed in Turkey's Kahramanmaraş province on Aug. 14. Three of those killed were Turkish nationals, while five crew members were Russian.

Sunday August 15 2021 10:33 am

Duvar English

Eight people were killed when a Russian firefighting Be-200 plane crashed in Turkey on Aug. 14.

The Russian military said last month a Be-200, part of the Russian naval air forces, had been sent to help Turkey fight wildfires raging through southern coastal regions.

Turkey has been fighting the fires for the past two weeks, with most of them now brought under control.

Five crew members from Russian military personnel and Turkish nationals were killed in the crash.

A special commission of the Russian Defense Ministry, as well as the employees of the Russian Embassy in Turkey, were heading to the place for the investigation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said he is "deeply saddened" by the loss of the Turkish and Russian crew in the tragic plane crash.

"Their heroic sacrifices will not be forgotten!," Çavuşoğlu said.

С глубоким прискорбием узнал о гибели турецкого и российского экипажа в трагической авиакатастрофе, произошедшей во время тушения пожара в Кахраманмараше. Выражаем наши соболезнования турецкому и российскому народу. Их героические жертвы не будут забыты!
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) August 14, 2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.