Two helicopters fighting Greece wildfire collide
Two helicopters collided mid-air while fighting wildfires in Greece, resulting in two fatalities. The incident occurred as emergency crews struggle to contain widespread fires exacerbated by recent heatwaves.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the extreme risks faced by emergency responders during the increasingly frequent and severe wildfire seasons caused by climate change.
Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece./SCREENGRAB
Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece as they were battling wildfires, local authorities say.
The two fatalities were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. A British pilot and another Greek fire service liaison officer on the second helicopter survived.
A video of the incident, some 65 km (42 miles) west of the capital, Athens, shows one of the Bell helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames. Both fell into a ravine.
Several fires have broken out in Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Several other European nations have suffered devastating wildfires after a succession of prolonged heatwaves.
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