Two Killed as Firefighting Helicopters Collide Over Greek Wildfire

Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air during suppression operations west of Athens, Greece, killing two crew members. The crash occurred over the Psatha area, where the aircraft were battling severe wildfires. Two of the four crew members on board survived, according to the Hellenic Fire Service.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis identified the deceased as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire coordinator. The two survivors were identified as a British national and a Greek national. The aircraft — Bell helicopters leased by the Hellenic Fire Service — had departed from Elefsina military airport prior to the collision, according to reports from the BBC and Reuters.

Investigation and Operational Context

Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collision. Official findings remain pending, but the incident underscores the acute dangers of low-altitude aerial firefighting, which demands split-second coordination in conditions marked by dense smoke, turbulence and rapidly shifting winds. In a separate development, CNN reported that two Greek nationals were arrested on suspicion of negligence linked to electrical infrastructure sparks in Boeotia, as investigators examine the wildfire's origin.