Two crew members were killed after two firefighting helicopters collided while battling wildfires in Greece, authorities confirmed.
The victims were identified as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. A British pilot and another Greek fire service coordinator survived the collision and sustained minor injuries.
The accident occurred about 65 kilometres west of Athens as two Bell helicopters were assisting efforts to contain a major wildfire along the Attica–Boeotia border.
Video from the scene showed one helicopter striking the rotor blades of the other before bursting into flames and crashing into a ravine. The second aircraft managed to make an emergency landing. According to the Greek Fire Service, both helicopters had been leased from Australian aviation company McDermott Aviation for wildfire operations.
Rescuers recovered the crew members from one helicopter alive, while the two occupants of the second aircraft were found unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences, describing the deaths as a tragic loss and extending sympathy to the families of the victims.
The Survivors
Following the crash, Greek authorities grounded all Bell firefighting helicopters operating across the country as investigations began. Officials said the British pilot and the Greek coordinator aboard the second helicopter remained conscious after the emergency landing. Both were taken to hospital with minor injuries and are expected to remain under medical observation for 24 hours as a precaution.
Government sources said the British survivor was a privately contracted pilot hired specifically for the wildfire season and was not part of any official UK emergency assistance mission.
Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reported that the survivors immediately alerted emergency services after the collision. This helped rescue teams locate the crash site.
McDermott Aviation founder and president John McDermott said the company was cooperating fully with investigators. He extended condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by what he described as a tragic incident.
Firefighting operations have continued despite the accident, with Erickson Air-Crane, Chinook helicopters, and Canadair water-bombing aircraft remaining active. Greece has been battling multiple wildfires in recent days as extreme heat and dry conditions continue to fuel fast-moving blazes.
More than 500 firefighters have been deployed across several regions, including Psatha, Porto Germeno, Megara, Fokida, and the island of Kefalonia.
Outside Greece
Elsewhere in Europe, major wildfires that forced mass evacuations in France and Spain have now largely been contained. This has allowed hundreds of thousands of residents to begin returning home. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfire conditions.
A wet winter encouraged heavy vegetation growth across southern Europe. However, prolonged summer heat has dried the landscape, creating ideal fuel for large fires.
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