Two crew killed after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece, as British pilot survives
✓Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece while battling wildfires.
The fatalities were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. A British pilot and another Greek co-ordinator on the second helicopter survived.
Video of the incident some 65 km (42 miles) west of the capital Athens shows one of the two Bell helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames and crashes in a ravine. The other aircraft made an emergency landing.
Wildfires have broken out in Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Other European states have also suffered devastating blazes during prolonged heatwaves.
According to the Greek Fire Service, the two leased Bell helicopters collided on Sunday while taking part in efforts to tackle a large wildfire burning on the Attica-Boeotia border.
The crew members of one aircraft were rescued alive, while the second crew were recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his "deepest sorrow" over the accident.
In a post on X, he said the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot "fills us all with grief". He also sent condolences to their families.
According to protocol, all Bell helicopters across the country have been grounded, a source from the civil protection ministry told the BBC.
The source added that the second Bell helicopter involved in the collision made an emergency landing in an area of low vegetation.
"The two people on board, a British pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer - escaped with minor injuries," the source said.
"Both remained conscious and have been admitted to hospital, where they will remain under observation for 24 hours as a precaution."
The source also told the BBC the British survivor was a private pilot hired for the wildfire season.
He was not part of any exchange between the UK and Greece, and there was no request for assistance from Athens.
Meanwhile, Greece's Ekathimerini news website said the two survivors immediately reported the collision, guiding rescuers to the crash site.
The names of the four crew members have not been publicly released.
Erickson Air-Crane and Chinook helicopters, as well as Canadair water-bombing aircraft are continuing to carry out firefighting efforts.
Early this week, France and Spain battled huge fires - two of the main ones were close to Madrid and Bordeaux respectively. Those have now been contained, though they are still burning. Some 300,000 people who were evacuated have started to return to their homes.
In Greece, media reports describe "a titanic battle" along a swathe of territory that includes Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia, where more than 500 firefighters have been struggling to bring the situation under control over the past 72 hours.
Most wildfires are sparked by people, whether intentionally or accidentally, but climate change is making the conditions for them more common.
Last winter was mild and wet, encouraging vegetation growth, which has then dried out in successive hot spells, generating fuel for wildfires.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · BBC ↗
Two Bell helicopters collided on Sunday while conducting wildfire suppression operations approximately 65 kilometres west of Athens. The collision resulted in two fatalities: a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. Two crew members on the second aircraft—a British pilot and a Greek coordinator—survived with minor injuries and were hospitalized for observation. Video evidence shows one helicopter striking the other's propellers before it caught fire and crashed into a ravine; the second helicopter made an emergency landing. In response, all Bell helicopters across Greece have been grounded. Firefighting efforts continue using other helicopter types and water-bombing aircraft. Greece is contending with widespread wildfires that have prompted mass evacuations; similar large fires in France and Spain earlier this week have now been contained.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · BBC ↗
Two crew members have been killed after two helicopters collided mid-air in Greece while battling wildfires.
The fatalities were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer. A British pilot and another Greek co-ordinator on the second helicopter survived.
Video of the incident some 65 km (42 miles) west of the capital Athens shows one of the two Bell helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames and crashes in a ravine. The other aircraft made an emergency landing.
Wildfires have broken out in Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Other European states have also suffered devastating blazes during prolonged heatwaves.
According to the Greek Fire Service, the two leased Bell helicopters collided on Sunday while taking part in efforts to tackle a large wildfire burning on the Attica-Boeotia border.
The crew members of one aircraft were rescued alive, while the second crew were recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his "deepest sorrow" over the accident.
In a post on X, he said the loss of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot "fills us all with grief". He also sent condolences to their families.
According to protocol, all Bell helicopters across the country have been grounded, a source from the civil protection ministry told the BBC.
The source added that the second Bell helicopter involved in the collision made an emergency landing in an area of low vegetation.
"The two people on board, a British pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer - escaped with minor injuries," the source said.
"Both remained conscious and have been admitted to hospital, where they will remain under observation for 24 hours as a precaution."
The source also told the BBC the British survivor was a private pilot hired for the wildfire season.
He was not part of any exchange between the UK and Greece, and there was no request for assistance from Athens.
Meanwhile, Greece's Ekathimerini news website said the two survivors immediately reported the collision, guiding rescuers to the crash site.
The names of the four crew members have not been publicly released.
Erickson Air-Crane and Chinook helicopters, as well as Canadair water-bombing aircraft are continuing to carry out firefighting efforts.
Early this week, France and Spain battled huge fires - two of the main ones were close to Madrid and Bordeaux respectively. Those have now been contained, though they are still burning. Some 300,000 people who were evacuated have started to return to their homes.
In Greece, media reports describe "a titanic battle" along a swathe of territory that includes Porto Germeno, Psatha, Fokida, Megara and Kefalonia, where more than 500 firefighters have been struggling to bring the situation under control over the past 72 hours.
Most wildfires are sparked by people, whether intentionally or accidentally, but climate change is making the conditions for them more common.
Last winter was mild and wet, encouraging vegetation growth, which has then dried out in successive hot spells, generating fuel for wildfires.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · BBC ↗
Two helicopters collided mid-air while battling wildfires west of Athens on Sunday A Danish pilot and Greek fire service liaison officer were killed; a British pilot and Greek coordinator survived Video shows one Bell helicopter striking the propellers of the other, which then caught fire and crashed in a ravine The surviving crew made an emergency landing and reported the collision, guiding rescuers to the crash site All Bell helicopters in Greece have been grounded following the incident Widespread wildfires across Greece have prompted mass evacuations France and Spain also battled large fires this week, with around 300,000 people evacuated before containment Climate change is making conditions for wildfires more common Last winter's mild, wet conditions encouraged vegetation growth that subsequently dried out, providing fuel for wildfires
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · BBC ↗
- Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air west of Athens on Sunday while battling wildfires; a Danish pilot and Greek liaison officer died, while a British pilot and Greek coordinator survived with minor injuries
- Video shows one Bell helicopter striking the other's propellers, causing it to burst into flames and crash in a ravine; the second made an emergency landing
- All Bell helicopters in Greece have been grounded following the incident; other aircraft types continue firefighting operations as wildfires spread across Greece and southern Europe amid prolonged heatwaves