In brief
A mid‑air collision between two firefighting helicopters over the Psatha region sent the aircraft into a ravine, leaving four crew members injured. Greek forces are battling the country’s worst wildfire season, with strong winds turning forests into battering grounds. The incident underscores the growing danger of wildfires intensified by climate change, prompting evacuations across Greece’s coastlines.
Helicopters collide mid‑air fighting Greek wildfires
Two helicopters collided at 42 miles west of Athens while fighting flames, sending one into a ravine.
Video footage shows a helicopter striking the other’s propellers, firing sparks into the air. The impact caused both aircraft to catch fire. Four crew members were aboard, two of them unconscious and the others with minor injuries, according to Greek media.
Greek firefighters have been battling several hot wildfires that have forced thousands to flee. Strong winds have prevented firefighters from bringing the blazes under control, and the country has been in a tense “titanic battle” across areas such as Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia.
In recent weeks, France and Spain also faced massive wildfires near Madrid and Bordeaux. Those fires have been contained, but the threat remains high, with around 300 000 evacuees returning home.
The collision occurred during a forest‑fire operation in Psatha. Two Greek and two Romanian crew members were taken to the 251st Air Force General Hospital.
Wildfires are still mostly caused by human activity, but climate change fuels the conditions—mild, wet winters grow vegetation that later dries during hot spells, creating abundant fuel for fires.
