Two Bell helicopters deployed to battle a major forest fire west of Athens collided mid-air during a rescue operation, leaving two crew members dead and prompting a full investigation by Greek authorities.
Mid-air collision during wildfire operation
A fatal accident involving two Bell firefighting helicopters occurred in the Psatha area, west of Athens, where aircraft had been deployed to tackle a large forest wildfire.
The helicopters collided in mid-air while carrying out a rescue operation. One aircraft caught fire and crashed, while the second was forced to make an emergency landing. The collision was captured on video, and footage of the incident has been circulating online.
Preliminary reports indicate that four people were involved in the accident — two Greek nationals and two foreign nationals.
Survivors escaped with minor injuries
Moments before the collision, the crew of one helicopter managed to contact the operations centre and report the emergency.
The pilot and a fellow crew member survived with minor injuries and were quickly evacuated by ambulance teams that arrived at the scene. Both remain under medical observation, but doctors say their lives are not in danger. They were the only survivors of the crash.
Rescue teams recover bodies from ravine
The second helicopter crashed into a ravine and was located by rescue teams after search and recovery operations had concluded.
Both crew members on board were killed. Their bodies were recovered from the wreckage, according to Greek broadcaster Skai.
Authorities launch investigation
The rescue operation was hampered by dense smoke and difficult terrain, forcing emergency services to deploy additional rescue units and medical teams.
Greek authorities have expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
