Greece Wildfires Rage After Firefighting Helicopter Collision Kills Two
Two Bell firefighting helicopters collided midair Sunday near Psatha, west of Athens, while battling an active wildfire. Both aircraft had taken off from Elefsina military airport and each carried two crew members.
- 4 crew members total were aboard the two helicopters at collision.
- Television footage showed one helicopter explode and fall to the ground in flames.
- Nearly 500 firefighters are deployed in Greece, including reinforcements from France and Romania.
- Winds gusting above 73 kph made fire direction unpredictable, firefighter Giorgos Doulas said.
Why it matters: The collision adds a crisis on top of an already strained firefighting operation. Greece is simultaneously battling blazes near Porto Germeno and Kefalonia, where a 44-year-old man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of arson.
- Flames at Porto Germeno reached a military firing range, activating unexploded ordnance.
- More than 10,000 hectares are estimated destroyed across the affected areas so far.
How 24 sources split on this story
Associated Press1w+Photos show destruction from wildfires in Greece as blazes take hold in Europe and parts of the US
PBS NewsHour1w+Europe's hot, dry summer takes its toll with fires in France and Greece, and drought in the UK
Reuters1w+Greek crews fight wildfire northwest of Athens for fourth day
Jerusalem Post1w+Israeli technology works to prevent aircraft collisions after deadly firefighting crash in Athens
BBC News1w+Two crew killed as British pilot survives after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece
CNBC1w+Greece wildfire in pictures: Firefighters battle blaze worsened by 100km per hour winds
Deutsche Welle1w+Greece: fire brigade helicopters collide as wildfires spread
France 241w+Fire spread deeper into Athens region
Japan Times1w+Helicopter collision shows perils of fighting Europe’s wildfiresYNYahoo News1w+Two die as firefighting helicopters collide in Greece, French blaze changes courseLeft coverage, 5 sources: The left frames the helicopter collision within a broader European climate crisis, linking the wildfires to record heat, little rainfall, and conditions scientists attribute to climate change.
Al Jazeera1w+Firefighting helicopters collide near Athens as Greece battles wildfires
The Independent1w+Greece wildfires rage as more than 1000 people evacuated near Athens
Los Angeles Times1w+2 killed when firefighting helicopters collide near AthensTBGThe Boston Globe1w+2 killed when firefighting helicopters collide near Athens as Europe’s wildfire emergency rages
Time1w+Greece Battles Raging Wildfires After Collision Between Firefighting Helicopters Kills TwoRight coverage, 8 sources: The right focuses on the immediate operational details — the specific aircraft type, airport of origin, and firsthand accounts of extreme wind conditions hampering firefighters on the ground.
Daily Mail1w+British pilot, 48, 'miraculously' escaped fireball crash that killed two after helicopters battling Greece's wildfires collided mid-air
The Sun1w+Brit pilot’s ‘miraculous’ escape from helicopter crash seconds before explosion killed 2 while battling Greek wildfires
The Washington Times1w+Europe's hot, dry summer takes its toll with fires in France and Greece, and drought in Britain
New York Post1w+Horror moment 2 firefighting helicopters collide mid-air — as blazes ravage Europe
NTD1w+2 Killed When Firefighting Helicopters Collide Near Athens as Europe’s Wildfire Emergency Rages
The Daily Caller1w+Firefighting Helicopters Collide Mid-Air, Killing Two Pilots, In Horrifying Video
The Epoch Times1w+Firefighters Still Battling Fires in Greece After 2 Killed in Helicopter Collision
Washington Examiner1w+Two firefighting helicopters collide midair near Athens as Europe’s wildfire emergency ragesWhat’s next: Search and rescue teams are actively working to locate the four crew members in Psatha.
- Firefighters are working to stop the Porto Germeno blaze from reaching the town of Megara.
- What is the condition of the four crew members aboard the two helicopters?
- What caused the midair collision — mechanical failure, visibility, or coordination breakdown?