Firefighting plane crashes in Turkey's Maraş, killing eight people

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A firefighting plane linked to Turkey's General Directorate of Forestry crashed in the southern province of Maraş today (August 14), killing all eight people on board.

Contact was lost with the plane which had been rented from Russia to help Turkey's efforts to contain a forest fire in Maraş, Governor Ömer Faruk Coşkun told the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).

A large number of search and rescue teams were dispatched to the region, added Coşkun.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

In a separate statement, Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed the Russian Be-200 amphibious plane crashed while landing near Turkey's Adana province following a firefighting mission.

All five Russian and three Turkish servicemen on board the plane were killed in the crash, the statement said.

A special commission of Russia's Defense Ministry, as well as the employees of the country's embassy in Turkey, headed to the place for the investigation, it added.

The plane was sent to Turkey on July 8 to help Turkey fight the wildfires.

Be-200 is designed specifically for fighting fires, including in remote areas, it can carry 12 tons of water.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of the Turkish and Russian crew in the tragic plane crash.

"Their heroic sacrifices will not be forgotten!," Cavusoglu added.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin also offered his condolences to Turkey over the loss of lives in a telegram addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (RT/VK)