Fire-fighting aircraft crashes east of south Evia island town of Karystos; fate of 2 pilots unknown

A Greek fire-fighting aircraft has crashed east of the southern-most Evia harbor town of Karystos, media reports stated after 3 p.m. local time (13.00 GMT).

The twin-engine Canadair-type plane carried two pilots, whose fate was not immediately known.

A police unit spotted the down plane near the settlement of Platanistos, located in the large island’s southeast tip, on the Strait of Kafireas.

Fire-brigade crews, emergency units and fire-fighting aircraft have been battling a tenacious wildfire in a rugged, remote and sparsely populated mountain side east of Karystos for three days.

Television footage showed the smoking wreckage of the plane.