Two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece; two crew members were killed
In Greece, two chartered Bell helicopters collided in mid-air while fighting a major wildfire. A Danish pilot and a Greek fire department communications officer were killed, BBC News reports, citing local authorities.
According to the Greek Fire Service, the accident occurred on Sunday on the border between the Attica and Boeotia regions. Video of the incident, which took place about 65 kilometers west of Athens, shows one helicopter’s rotors striking those of the other. One helicopter caught fire and crashed into a ravine, while the other made an emergency landing in an area with low vegetation.
On board the helicopter that landed were a British pilot and another Greek fire department official. According to a BBC source at the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection, they sustained minor injuries, remained conscious, and were hospitalized for a precautionary 24-hour observation period.
The source also reported that the British pilot was a private contractor hired for the wildfire season. He was not participating in an exchange program between the United Kingdom and Greece, and Athens did not request assistance from London.
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The crew of one helicopter was rescued alive, while the crew members of the second were found unconscious and were later pronounced dead. The names of all four crew members have not been publicly disclosed.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Following the collision, all Bell helicopter flights in the country were suspended in accordance with protocol. Firefighting efforts continue using Erickson Air-Crane and Chinook helicopters, as well as Canadair aircraft for water drops.
According to Greek media reports, more than 500 firefighters have been working over the past 72 hours to bring the fires under control in the areas of Porto Germeno, Psata, Phocis, Megara, and Kefalonia. This week’s wildfires have triggered mass evacuations in Greece.
