Two dead as firefighting helicopters collide mid-air during wildfire operation near Psatha, Greece
Two Bell-type helicopters contracted for aerial firefighting collided on Sunday afternoon while battling a forest fire near Psatha in western Attica, killing a Danish pilot and a Greek coordinator. The two crew members of the second helicopter survived.
The collision
Two Bell-type helicopters operating on a forest fire near Psatha, western Attica, collided shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, 2 August 2026. Both aircraft were contracted for firefighting and had been active on the fire front since the morning hours. Each carried a two-person crew: a foreign pilot and a Greek coordinator who maintained communication with the Fire Service operations centre.
According to witness accounts and video footage from the area, the helicopters were flying in extremely close proximity, one slightly above the other on a parallel course. Under conditions still under investigation, the rotor blades of the two aircraft made contact. The lower-flying helicopter disintegrated almost instantly in the air and fell to the ground in flames, killing both crew members. The second helicopter managed an emergency landing on a road.
All prescribed preliminary investigative actions are being carried out, while the scene of the incident has been cordoned off and is guarded by police forces.
Casualties and survivors
The collision killed a Danish pilot and a Greek coordinator who were aboard the helicopter that broke apart and crashed into a ravine. Both were recovered without vital signs and transported to the 251 General Air Force Hospital, where their deaths were confirmed.
The crew of the second helicopter, a British pilot and a Greek coordinator, survived. The British pilot managed to land the aircraft on a road, and both occupants exited minutes before the helicopter ignited from its fuel. They were taken to the 251 General Air Force Hospital with injuries described as light; medical assessments characterised their condition as good and not a cause for concern.
Investigation underway
By order of the competent prosecutor, the Hellenic Police (ELAS) has taken over the preliminary investigation to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident. The crash site has been sealed off and is under police guard to preserve evidence for the necessary expert examinations. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be submitted to the prosecuting authority.
Operational context and grounding
At the time of the accident, the aerial units were operating under particularly adverse conditions, with strong winds in western Attica severely complicating firefighting efforts and forcing crews into continuous water drops. Following the collision, all Bell-type helicopters participating in firefighting operations were grounded as a precaution, pending technical inspections before any return to service.
- Two Bell helicopters begin firefighting operations on the Psatha forest fire, each with a foreign pilot and Greek coordinator.
- Shortly after 4:00 p.m., the two helicopters collide mid-air; rotor blades make contact while flying in close parallel proximity.
- The British pilot of the second helicopter lands on a road; both crew members exit minutes before the aircraft ignites.
- Police cordon off the area; the lower helicopter has crashed into a ravine, killing both occupants.
- Hellenic Police launch preliminary investigation under prosecutorial order; all Bell helicopters grounded for technical checks.
