Two crew members were killed after two firefighting helicopters collided while battling wildfires near Athens, Greek authorities said Sunday, marking another tragedy as Greece confronts a dangerous wildfire season.
The crash occurred in the wider Psatha area of Attica, where the helicopters were supporting firefighting efforts against fast-moving wildfires.
According to the Greek Fire Service, each Bell helicopter carried two crew members.
One helicopter burst into flames and crashed following the collision, while the second aircraft appeared to sustain less severe damage.
Victims and Survivors Identified by Nationality
Authorities said one Greek and one Danish crew member died in the crash.
A second Greek national and a British national survived and were recovered alive.
Officials have not released additional information about the survivors’ conditions or the cause of the collision.
The helicopters had been leased by Greece’s fire department and had departed from Elefsina military airport before the incident.
Wildfires Continue to Spread Across Greece
The helicopter crash came as Greece continued battling multiple wildfires driven by high temperatures, dry vegetation and powerful winds.
Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were deployed across affected regions, but officials said gale-force winds complicated firefighting operations and prevented some aircraft from collecting seawater needed for aerial water drops.
Authorities ordered evacuations in Kandili, Agia Skepi and Toutouli as flames spread through western Attica.
Emergency crews remained especially concerned about Porto Germeno, a coastal community on the Gulf of Corinth threatened by advancing flames.
Hundreds Evacuated as Fires Intensify
The wildfire began Friday near Agios Vasileios before spreading through forested mountains west of Athens toward coastal communities.
Officials said 254 people were evacuated by sea on Friday, followed by another 12 people on Saturday after roads became impassable due to fire and heavy smoke.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was briefed on the ongoing emergency response.
Wildfire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros estimated the fire had burned between 40 and 50 square kilometers (15 to 19 square miles), although authorities had not released an official burn-area estimate.
Multiple Regions Remain Under Threat
Wildfires were also reported on the island of Kefalonia, where flames threatened homes and prompted additional evacuations.
Another wildfire response continued near Nea Tenedos in the Halkidiki region.
The latest helicopter crash follows other recent firefighting tragedies in Greece.
Earlier in the week, two firefighters died while battling a wildfire on Crete, while another firefighter was killed in the Peloponnese.
Local farmer Minas Tzortzanis described the devastation caused by the fires, saying vast areas of forest had been destroyed.
Background
Greece experiences destructive wildfires nearly every summer, with prolonged heatwaves, drought and strong seasonal winds creating conditions that allow fires to spread rapidly.
Climate scientists have warned that rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events are increasing wildfire risks across southern Europe.
Why It Matters
The deaths of two aerial firefighting crew members underscore the dangers emergency responders face while combating increasingly severe wildfires.
The incident also highlights the growing challenges European countries face as prolonged heatwaves continue to fuel large-scale fires across the continent.
What’s Next
Emergency crews continue working to contain the fires across Greece while investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the helicopter collision.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as the investigation progresses.
Conclusion
As Greece battles one of its latest wildfire emergencies, the loss of two firefighting crew members adds a tragic dimension to an already difficult response. Rescue teams remain focused on containing the blazes, protecting threatened communities and determining what caused the fatal midair collision.
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