Jordanian firefighting helicopters arrive in Cyprus

Two firefighting helicopters with 18 members of crew have arrived in Cyprus to support the Republic of Cyprus' aerial firefighting capabilities, as previously reported by Kathimerini.

The crews were welcomed on Monday morning at "Andreas Papandreou" Air Base in Paphos by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou.

Panayiotou welcomed the helicopters from the Royal Jordanian Air Force and pointed out that their immediate response to the request of the Republic showcases the depth of our bilateral cooperation and the shared commitment to addressing challenges that transcend borders.

She expressed Cyprus’ sincere appreciation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for their invaluable support during this critical period, characterized by high temperatures and the looming threat of wildfires.

“Until the arrival of the leased firefighting airplanes and helicopters, the Jordanian Mission will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in aerial firefighting, contributing to the preservation of our precious forests”, she said.

The Minister went on to say that 18 highly skilled individuals, including pilots, crewmen, and technicians have arrived and their expertise in aerial firefighting “ensures that we have the best possible assistance at our disposal”.

The Agriculture Minister also said that the government is leveraging all available resources to minimize the impact of wildfires and ensure the utmost protection for our forests, biodiversity, and the well-being of our local communities.

“While the complete eradication of wildfires is, of course, an ideal scenario, our aim is to achieve the most immediate and timely response possible to the challenges we face,” she said.