Greek Firefighting's New Diamond Aircraft Grounded Amid Criticism

The Greek Firefighting Service received three Diamond DA62 MPP aircraft under the AIGIS programme, a contract worth about €23.3 million signed in April 2024. The planes were officially handed over at Megara Airport in November 2025, with the prime minister present, and were promoted as modern aerial coordination and surveillance centres for wildfire response.

During the major fires that struck Boeotia and West Attica later that year, the three aircraft remained at the Megara base and were not deployed. Officials cited a lack of certified pilots and operators for the aircraft’s specialised electro‑optical and thermal systems, as well as unfinished procedures for full operational integration into the civil‑protection framework. The situation triggered strong public and parliamentary criticism, with trade‑union representatives questioning the high cost of the purchase and the focus on expensive aerial assets while ground resources and personnel were insufficient.

The episode has raised calls for greater transparency and faster readiness of newly acquired emergency equipment.