Tragic Mid-Air Helicopter Collision Kills Two Firefighters Battling Wildfires in Greece
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Two crew members died after two helicopters collided in mid-air while fighting wildfires in Greece.
The fatalities include a Danish pilot and a contact officer from Greece’s fire management agency. The pilot and coordinator on the other helicopter, a British pilot and a Greek coordinator, were unharmed.
The accident occurred about 65 kilometers west of the capital, Athens. Video footage shows one helicopter striking the rotor of the other, causing one helicopter to catch fire and crash near a cliff area, while the other made an emergency landing.
This week, wildfires have spread across multiple regions in Greece, leading to the evacuation of many local residents. Prolonged extreme heat has also contributed to devastating wildfires in other European countries.
According to a source from Greece’s Ministry of Civil Protection, all ‘‘bell’’ helicopters engaged in firefighting nationwide have been grounded immediately as a safety protocol following the incident.
The British pilot who survived was operating privately for wildfire risk missions and was not part of any formal exchange program between the UK and Greece. Athens had not requested assistance from the UK.
According to Greece’s top news site Kathimerini, the two survivors reported the collision and helped rescuers reach the accident site promptly.
The names of all four crew members involved have not yet been released.
Firefighting efforts continue using ‘Erickson Air-Crane’, ‘Chinook helicopters’, and ‘Canadair’ water-dropping aircraft.
Earlier this week, France and Spain also battled large wildfires, with major fires near Madrid and Bordeaux, respectively.
Those fires are now mostly under control but not entirely extinguished. Approximately 300,000 people were evacuated due to the wildfires and many have begun returning home.
Greek media have described the wildfire spanning large areas including Porto Germeno, Pasatha, Phocida, Megara, and Kefalonia as a “massive battle.” More than 500 firefighters have been combating the fires for over 72 hours.
Wildfires often start intentionally or accidentally but climate change has created conditions favorable to more frequent and intense wildfires.
