Two Helicopters Collide Mid-Air While Battling Greece Wildfire, Killing Two Crew Members

ATHENS — Two crew members have been killed after two Bell helicopters collided mid-air while battling a major wildfire in Greece, authorities have confirmed.

The victims were identified as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer who were aboard one of the helicopters involved in the crash.

The accident occurred on Sunday along the Attica-Boeotia border, about 65 kilometres (42 miles) west of Athens, as the helicopters were taking part in firefighting operations.

Video footage of the incident shows one of the Bell helicopters striking the propellers of the other aircraft before bursting into flames and crashing into a ravine. The second helicopter managed to make an emergency landing in an area with low vegetation.

According to the Greek Fire Service, the two helicopters had been leased from Australian aviation company McDermott Aviation to support efforts to contain the wildfire.

The crew members aboard the helicopter that crashed were initially rescued unconscious and were later pronounced dead. The other aircraft had two people on board — a British pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer — both of whom survived with minor injuries.

The two survivors reportedly remained conscious after the emergency landing and were taken to hospital for observation.

A source from Greece’s civil protection ministry told the BBC that the British pilot was a private pilot hired specifically for the wildfire season and was not part of any official UK-Greece exchange programme.

Following the accident, authorities grounded Bell helicopters operating across Greece in accordance with established safety protocols, pending further assessment.

The collision has cast a sombre shadow over Greece’s ongoing battle against wildfires, which have prompted mass evacuations in several areas.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his deepest sorrow over the deaths, saying the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot was a source of grief for the country.

He extended his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.

The names of the four crew members involved in the accident had not been publicly released at the time of reporting.

John McDermott, founder and president of McDermott Aviation, also expressed condolences to the families and colleagues affected by what he described as a tragic incident.

McDermott Aviation said it was working with the relevant authorities and would continue to assist with the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Meanwhile, firefighting operations have continued, with Erickson Air-Crane and Chinook helicopters, alongside Canadair water-bombing aircraft, deployed to combat the flames.

Greek media have described the firefighting operation as a “titanic battle”, with more than 500 firefighters reportedly working to contain fires across areas including Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia.

The crisis comes amid a wider wave of wildfires across parts of Europe, following prolonged periods of extreme heat.

France and Spain have also battled major fires in recent days, including blazes near Madrid and Bordeaux. Although some of the fires have been brought under control, authorities have continued to monitor affected areas, while hundreds of thousands of evacuated residents have begun returning home.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing the frequency of hot and dry conditions that can create favourable environments for wildfires.

In Greece, authorities have also pointed to the role of human activity in many wildfire outbreaks. A mild and wet winter encouraged vegetation growth, while subsequent periods of intense heat dried the vegetation, creating additional fuel for fires.

As Greece continues its battle against the flames, the helicopter tragedy has added another devastating dimension to an already dangerous firefighting operation.