The authorities of the Turkish Bodrum are planning to name the forests to be planted in the city in honor of the deceased members of the Be-200 amphibious fire-fighting aircraft crew, Bodrum Mayor Ahmet Aras said in an interview to RIA Novosti.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on August 14 that a Russian Be-200 aircraft crashed when landing after performing the task of extinguishing fires in Turkey near the settlement of Adana. It is noted that there were five Russian servicemen and three Turkish representatives on board the airplane, who were pointing the fire extinguishing locations to the crew. A commission of the Russian Defense Ministry and representatives of the Russian Embassy in Ankara were sent to the crash site to clarify the reasons of the tragedy.
According to the Mayor, Turkey will never forget Russia's assistance, which was among the first to send its planes and helicopters to extinguish the fire. Aras thanked Russia for its support and efforts in fighting the fires in various parts of Turkey. He stressed that the Be-200 crash shocked everyone.
"We intend to carry out a project that will preserve the memory of these heroes forever. Their dedication will remain in our hearts. The names of Russian and Turkish citizens - members of the crew of the crashed Be-200 aircraft will be called forests, which in the future will be planted in Bodrum in the place of the burnt forest area," Aras said.
Aras noted that the pilots of Russian fire planes and helicopters "showed supreme courage in a difficult period when there seemed to be no more hope," they instilled confidence in the members of the fire brigades working on the ground and encouraged the local population.
The aircraft was leased by the General Directorate of Forestry of Turkey from Russia and was on the balance sheet of the Adana Regional Forestry Directorate. The aircraft crashed while extinguishing a fire that broke out in the Onikishubat area of Kahramanmarash after being struck by lightning.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Rostec
Based on materials from RIA Novosti