Two firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens; all four crew rescued, two unconscious

Collision during firefighting operations

Two firefighting helicopters collided on Sunday while battling a large forest fire in the Psatha area, west of Athens, the Greek fire department reported. The aircraft had taken off from Elefsina airport and were part of the aerial response to the Attica-Beotia front, which has been burning for 72 hours and spans Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara, and Cefalonia. More than 500 firefighters have been deployed on the ground to contain the flames, supported by a fleet of helicopters and water-bombing planes.

Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilized to locate and assist the crews.

Rescue of the crews

Initial reports indicated that two pilots from one helicopter were rescued quickly and were in good health. The second crew remained unaccounted for, prompting an ongoing search. Later, authorities confirmed that all four crew members had been located. Two suffered minor injuries, while the other two were found unconscious and were transported by ambulance to the 251st Air Force General Hospital in Athens. According to local media, each helicopter carried a Romanian pilot and a Greek coordinator. Fears were expressed for the lives of the two unconscious crew members.

Grounding of Bell helicopters

Following the collision, all Bell-type helicopters operating on the fire front were grounded as a precaution, in line with standard protocol. The remaining aerial fleet continued operations: 8 Erickson helicopters, 2 Canadair, and 2 Chinook aircraft kept dropping water on the flames. The grounding reduced the immediate air support available, but authorities maintained that the remaining resources were sufficient to continue the fight.

Wildfire crisis in Greece

Greece has been battling multiple wildfires fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. In the past week alone, more than 12,000 hectares of forest and farmland have been destroyed. The country is at the maximum alert level, with the fire season intensifying across the Mediterranean. Unlike France and Spain, which experienced large fires earlier in the summer, Greece had so far avoided large blazes this season. The fires come at the height of the tourist season, adding urgency to containment efforts. Greece, like the entire Mediterranean region, has been heavily affected by the climate crisis, with frequent heatwaves and drought creating tinderbox conditions each summer.

Investigation underway

The exact cause of the mid-air collision remains under investigation by the competent authorities. The two helicopters were operating in close proximity while making water drops on the fire, a high-risk environment that requires precise coordination. The grounding of Bell helicopters will remain in effect until the investigation determines whether any technical or procedural factors contributed to the accident.