Tragedy in Greece: Two Killed in Mid-Air Helicopter Collision During Wildfire Battle

Two leased Bell firefighting helicopters collided mid-air near Psatha, west of Athens, on Sunday while tackling a major wildfire amid widespread blazes across Greece.

Both crew members aboard one of the aircraft — a Danish pilot and a Greek coordinator — were killed in the crash. The crew of the second helicopter, a British pilot and a Greek liaison officer, survived with injuries and were rescued.

The helicopters, operated under contract by the Greek Fire Service, had taken off from Elefsina military airport as part of efforts to contain the blaze in the Attica region.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his “deepest sorrow” for the tragic accident. In a statement, he said the collision “claimed the lives of two frontline firefighters in the war on wildfires under very adverse weather conditions – especially for our aerial assets.”

“The loss of the Greek coordinator and the Danish pilot while operating on the large fire in Porto Germeno fills us all with grief,” Mitsotakis added. “My sincere condolences to their families.”

The incident occurred as strong winds and extreme heat continued to fuel wildfires across the country, complicating aerial firefighting operations.

RIP 🙏

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