Huge flames are devouring large areas of vegetation in Sardinia. Several major fires broke out on Saturday in various parts of the island in southern Italy, from north to south, leading to the closure of important roads for several hours and disrupting air connections at a major airport. Moreover, a helicopter and a plane involved in extinguishing the fires were on the verge of colliding.
Two aircraft involved in firefighting, a Super Puma helicopter and a Canadair plane, were on the verge of colliding on Friday in Guspini, with the pilots narrowly avoiding a collision. An investigation will clarify the causes of the incident and how the crews narrowly avoided a tragedy.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. At that time, a Canadair plane (Can27) from Olbia and three helicopters - including a Super Puma from the Alà dei Sardi base - were operating at the fire site.
Possible Cause of the Incident
L'Unione Sarda reports that in the morning there was a massive mobilization of resources to combat a massive fire in the locality of Putzu Nieddu, where the Forestry Corps, firefighters, Civil Protection units, and volunteers intervened. By the end of the day, the damages were significant, with approximately five hundred hectares of land turned to ashes.
However, the outcome could have been tragic. In addition to the flames, the Canadair plane and the helicopters had to face huge columns of smoke rising from the ground, and this smoke could be a key factor in the incident.
This is evident from a video recording of just a few seconds, filmed from the ground with a smartphone, from a distance of about 100 meters. The Super Puma helicopter and the Canadair plane approach from opposite directions: the first flies from right to left, while the second - flying at a lower altitude - emerges from a cloud of smoke heading to the right.
The right wing of the Canadair plane hit the steel cable of the helicopter supporting the "Bambi Bucket" - the container used for transporting water needed to extinguish fires. Immediately after, the cable and the bucket detached, and both aircraft made an emergency landing.
According to the official version provided by the Forestry Corps, the 30-meter cable suspended from the helicopter broke due to the impact. However, Raimondo Piras - a 57-year-old man with experience in firefighting operations - was a direct witness to the contact between the two aircraft and recounted what he saw. "Thanks to the quick reflexes of an operator, the helicopter and the Canadair plane did not crash, thus avoiding the death of both crews; he released the cable exactly at the moment the plane abruptly emerged from the smoke. The cable detached from the hook on the belly of the helicopter - an extremely specialized system equipped with multiple safety mechanisms."
The Forestry Corps has already initiated investigations in this case, and the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) will also conduct an investigation.
Series of Fires in Sardinia
The first fire broke out in the afternoon in the rural area near the town of Escalaplano, in the Riu Colla Colla area. An intervening helicopter mobilized from the Villasalto base supported the extinguishing operations, as reported by the local publication L'Unione Sarda.
Flames were also reported in the Cabras area, at Pauli Acqua Urchi. A helicopter from the Fenosu base intervened under the coordination of the operations director of the Oristano forest station.
The third fire broke out in the municipality of Uras, in the Riu Perdosu area. Two helicopters operated there - a Super Puma from the Alà dei Sardi base and another aircraft from Bosa. The Canadair Can12 plane was also sent in support, redirected from the fire in Morgongiori.
The fourth fire affected the San Gavino Monreale area, at Pranu Bettus, where a helicopter from the Pula base, a municipality in the Cagliari province, intervened.
To ensure safety during the intervention, the carabinieri ordered the temporary closure of State Road 197 on the section between San Gavino Monreale and Gonnosfanadiga.
Airport Paralyzed
Just a few hours after the outbreak of the first four fires, the emergency situation expanded to new areas of the island. A fire broke out in the Padrongiano area of Olbia, where operations were supported by two helicopters from the Limbara and Farcana bases and two Canadair aircraft (CAN 8 and CAN 12).
Activity at the Olbia airport was disrupted, with several flights redirected to Cagliari and Alghero.
A section of Road 125 was also closed.
Another fire was reported in the Gonnosfanadiga area, in the Spadula zone. An intervening helicopter from the Fenosu base operated on-site. Additionally, in the Siliqua municipality, in the Riu Pittiu area, a helicopter sent from the San Cosimo base intervened.
The emergency situation continued in the Oristano area, where firefighters intervened this morning in two fires: one near the town of Narbolia (in the Su Zippiri area) and the other in Morgongiori (in the Is Benas area). Two helicopters were mobilized for the latter incident, including a Super Puma and a Canadair.
Shortly before 4:00 p.m. local time, flames broke out between Marrubiu and Terralba, not far from National Road 131. Traffic was halted in both directions, and long lines of cars formed. A Super Puma helicopter and a Canadair aircraft were mobilized on-site. According to the Anas company, traffic was diverted to Provincial Road 46 and National Road 126. The road was reopened around 6:00 p.m. local time.