2 killed after helicopters battling Greece wildfires collide
Two crew members died after two helicopters collided while battling wildfires in Greece. The incident occurred amidst a severe heatwave and strong winds that have hampered firefighting efforts across Southern Europe.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights the extreme risks faced by emergency responders and the strain on aerial firefighting resources during increasingly severe climate-driven wildfire seasons.
The dead crew members were one Greek and one Danish national, while the two who were recovered alive were one Greek and one British national.
The collision laid bare the danger at the most volatile front of Europe's wildfire emergency. Strong winds drove flames deeper into the region of the Greek capital and forced fresh evacuations, France guarded a still-burning scar four times the size of Paris, while Spain's major fires stopped advancing.
The aircraft were Bell helicopters operating over the Psatha area west of Athens, each with a two-person crew. Foreign firefighting and helicopter crews are often deployed in Greece to help tackle wildfires during the country's hot, dry summers.
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