Turkey was outraged and demanded an explanation from the crews of the Russian Be-200ES amphibious aircraft, which were leased to fight forest fires, RIA Novosti reports, citing the Milliyet newspaper.
It is reported that on the evening of September 28, the planes, which received the nickname “Fire Eagle”, were flying in one of the city districts.
The publication points out that after seeing the aircraft, Antalya residents expressed concern when the aircraft, after taking water, are close enough to residential buildings.
After the pilots returned, representatives of the regional forestry department asked them for clarification.
According to RIA Novosti, two Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft arrived in Turkey in June to help extinguish forest fires. The aircraft will be on duty for four months in the vicinity of Antalya, Izmir and Bodrum. One of the Be-200s took part in extinguishing a fire at a fireworks factory in the Turkish province of Sakarya in early July.
