Newsroom
The tragic crash of a Canadair in Karysos left a journalist from ERT, Eleni Bouga, visibly shaken as she reported the devastating incident live on television. As reported by Proto Thema, the aircraft was attempting to drop water on wildfires in the area when the two young pilots on board lost their lives.
The shocking video captured the heart-wrenching moment when the Canadair collided with a tree, causing it to crash to the ground and explode. Eleni Bouga, the journalist reporting from the scene, couldn't control her emotions and broke down in tears.
"It was an incredibly tough moment for all of us. We couldn't believe what we were witnessing right before our eyes," she said with a trembling voice. "Those brave men were risking everything, flying at low altitudes to make those water drops. Their bravery was truly admirable. George, our cameraman, captured the whole scene... I'm sorry... it was the moment with the tragic ending," she added, her voice cracking as she recounted the heartbreaking events.
The cameraman, George Agnides, who recorded the crash, expressed how haunting the footage will be for him.
"At that very moment, I couldn't believe my eyes when it suddenly changed direction and crashed. The sight of smoke, rising flames, and the deafening crash that followed left me in disbelief."
As the broadcast came to an end, Eleni Bouga extended her heartfelt condolences to the families of the pilots and the entire Hellenic Air Force. "Words cannot describe what we experienced. The shock is overwhelming, and we are still trying to come to terms with it. This footage will stay with me forever," said George Agnidis, the ERT cameraman who meticulously documented the fall and crash of the fatal Canadair in Karysos.
According to the report of Proto Thema, George Agnidis also shared his account of the tragic moment. "I witnessed the planes making extraordinary efforts to fight the fire and save lives. At one point, I thought of capturing some close-up shots. I was observing the plane when it struck the tree. At that very moment, I couldn't believe my eyes when it suddenly changed direction and crashed. The sight of smoke, rising flames, and the deafening crash that followed left me in disbelief. I'm still trying to process what happened," he concluded.
The victims of this heart-wrenching accident were identified as 34-year-old pilot, Lieutenant Christos Moulas, and 27-year-old co-pilot, Second Lieutenant Perikles Stefanides.
In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of National Defense declared a three-day mourning period for the Armed Forces to honor the fallen pilots and pay tribute to their sacrifice.
