A collision between two firefighting helicopters in Greece has resulted in the deaths of two crew members, while a British pilot and another individual survived the incident. The tragedy occurred 65 km west of Athens while the aircraft were engaged in suppressing a wildfire along the Attica-Boeotia border.
Video footage captures one Bell helicopter striking the rotors of the other, causing it to ignite and fall into a ravine. The second aircraft managed to perform an emergency landing in low-lying vegetation. The deceased were identified as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service official. The survivors, including a privately contracted British pilot and a Greek coordinator, were hospitalized with minor injuries for precautionary observation.
In response, Greek officials have grounded all Bell helicopters nationwide. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to the families of those lost. Firefighting operations continue across the region using alternative aircraft as authorities investigate the crash site. This event takes place amid a broader trend of extreme heat and wildfires affecting Southern Europe, exacerbated by conditions linked to climate change.
