Two fire helicopters collide in Greece and two die as forces battle multiple wildfires
Two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece while battling severe wildfires, resulting in the deaths of the crew members. The incident occurred amidst extreme weather conditions and high winds that have complicated ongoing firefighting efforts across the country.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights the extreme risks faced by emergency responders during increasingly frequent and severe wildfire seasons exacerbated by climate change.
TWO FIRE HELICOPTERS have collided in Greece as forces battled multiple wildfires that have devastated swathes of land.
The two-man crew of a firefighting helicopter in Greece were killed in a mid-air collision with another chopper.
“The pilots… were taken unconscious to hospital, where their death was confirmed,” the fire department’s director of communications Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in a televised address.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned of “extremely difficult” days ahead.
The hired Bell helicopters collided while battling a wildfire in the Psatha area west of Athens, the fire service said on Sunday.
“Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilised to locate and assist the crews,” it said.
State broadcaster ERT reported that one crewmember had been found safe, while rescuers were searching for the second.
Television footage showed one of the helicopters explode and plunge to the ground in flames after an apparent rotor collision.
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