Azerbaijani amphibious aircraft returns from Türkiye after assisting in wildfire suppression VIDEO

The amphibious aircraft BE-200 ES of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has returned home after assisting in wildfire suppression efforts in Türkiye, following a directive from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The aircraft had been in Türkiye since August 18, 2024, actively participating in efforts to extinguish forest fires in various regions, including Mugla-Ula, Bolu-Gerede, Uşak-Esme, Akhisar-Taşkuyucak, Balikesir-Edremit, Manisa-Alasehir, Izmir-Urla, Bergama, Foça, Aliağa, and Kemalpaşa-Kamberler, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

During these operations, the aircraft dropped approximately 400 tonnes of water on the fire zones.

The amphibious aircraft, which effectively fulfilled its mission in collaboration with local forces, achieved the complete extinguishment of the wildfires. It landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport at approximately 14:40 today, October 10, marking the successful conclusion of its operations.

Türkiye has been battling wildfires since the summer, with 74 incidents recorded this year, devastating approximately 12,910 hectares (31,900 acres) of land, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

On August 17, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the deployment of a BE-200CS amphibious aircraft to Türkiye to aid in firefighting efforts. On the same day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to Aliyev, expressing his appreciation for Azerbaijan's readiness to provide necessary support in combating the wildfires. He highlighted the importance of the BE-200CS aircraft in extinguishing the fires and conveyed his gratitude for Azerbaijan’s timely assistance, viewing it as a testament to the strong brotherhood and strategic alliance between the two nations.

Additionally, Azerbaijan has dispatched teams of firefighters along with firefighting equipment to support Türkiye in managing these extensive forest fires. The first contingent included 100 firefighters who arrived in Mugla province, followed by another team sent on the night of July 31.

By Khagan Isayev