“Here it is clear that someone was risking another person’s life, risking the life of this pilot. Especially since everyone says that pilots flying such special missions as firefighting are experienced individuals with many years of service, high-class specialists who often operate abroad and are highly valued there. That is why I am surprised that someone acted against instructions, against regulations…”, said Michał Jach, an MP from Law and Justice (PiS) and a member of the Sejm National Defence Committee, in an interview with Niezalezna.pl.
As reported by Niezalezna.pl, firefighters and foresters attempted to dispatch additional aircraft from various bases to the fire in the Roztocze region. One after another, they refused – arguing that they could not operate after dark. It was different in the case of the aircraft that was sent into action from the Babice airport in Warsaw. The Dromader belonged to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Warsaw.
“I do not want to say who issued the order for the flight in this case. It was not a decision made by a single person”, said Regina Klimaszewska in an interview with Niezalezna.pl.
The aircraft crashed over the burning forest after dark, and the pilot died at the scene. More on the case in the article: Death in the Darkness. A pilot was sent and procedures were broken.
This morning, a press conference was held in the fire-affected area with the participation of, among others, the Minister of the Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, and the Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska. When representatives of independent media asked about the pilot’s death and the procedures surrounding the tragedy, Kierwiński attacked, among others, a reporter from TV Republika, speaking about “spreading propaganda”, and refused to answer the questions.
Jach: someone was risking another person’s life
Asked for comment on the tragedy, Michał Jach, an MP from Law and Justice (PiS) and a member of the Sejm National Defence Committee, told Niezalezna.pl:
“I have been observing this fire – in fact these fires, because they are in different places – and once again under this government, this gang of incompetents, I see a lack of any coordination and some strange decisions. Here it is clear that someone was risking another person’s life, risking the life of this pilot. Especially since everyone says that pilots flying such special missions as firefighting are experienced individuals with many years of service, high-class specialists who often operate abroad and are highly valued there”, he said.
He added that “that is why I am surprised that someone acted against instructions, against regulations. Based on the information we have obtained, it is clear to me that there are specific conditions under which this aircraft should not carry out any operation – in this case, a firefighting one. This is a threat primarily to the pilot”.
“These aircraft, as we all probably know, are not designed to operate in darkness. And it absolutely cannot continue that other centers refused. For me, it is scandalous that several of these centers refused, and finally someone – I do not know for what reasons – sent the pilot, risking his life, and a tragedy occurred”, Jach said.
In his opinion, “once again it is evident that in a situation of danger or natural disaster, the incompetence and lack of organization of this government are repeated – just as it was during the floods in the Sudetes two years ago. Once again, no one has drawn any conclusions. After all, General Bartkowiak, the former Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, spoke very critically the day before yesterday about how this operation is being conducted by the current crisis management leadership”.
He concluded: “for me, this is incomprehensible and scandalous”.