Helicopters collide while battling Greek wildfires, crew injured
A mid‑air collision occurred over the Psatha area, 65 kilometres west of Athens, as two helicopters were engaged in fighting a blaze. Video footage shows one aircraft striking the propellers of the other, setting it ablaze and sending both planes tumbling into a ravine.
Greek media reports that four crew members—a mix of Greek and Romanian pilots—suffered injuries. Two were found unconscious and have since been taken to the 251st Air Force General Hospital; the others suffered light injuries.
The collision comes amid an escalating wildfire crisis that has prompted mass evacuations and heightened pressure on firefighters across Greece. The fires, spread by strong winds, have burned through villages such as Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia, with over 500 firefighters battling flames for 72 hours.
Western Europe has also faced significant wildfire damage this season. Fires near Madrid and Bordeaux in Spain and France have been largely contained, yet many residents are still returning to evacuated homes.
The incident highlights how climate‑change‑driven weather patterns—long‑term wet winters followed by intense heat—create ideal conditions for fires that smoke and threaten infrastructure across the continent.
