Ano Rodini commemorates 33 years since fatal Canadair crash

August 22 marks the 33rd anniversary of the tragic Canadair CL-215 crash in Ano Rodini, Achaia. The aircraft, belonging to the 355 Tactical Transport Squadron of the 112 Combat Wing based in Elefsina, crashed while attempting to combat a major forest fire in the region.

The accident resulted in the deaths of two Hellenic Air Force pilots: Squadron Leader Stylianos Keletsakis and Sub-Lieutenant Konstantinos Palamiotis. Keletsakis, born in Athens in 1961, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1984. Palamiotis, born in Larissa in 1967, was a graduate of Physical Education from the Democritus University of Thrace and was known for his diverse interests, including music and sports.

While an investigation committee examined the crash, the exact causes of the aircraft's descent were not definitively established. A monument stands in Ano Rodini to honor the two aviators who lost their lives during the demanding mission of low-altitude aerial firefighting.