Two helicopters collided while battling wildfires in Greece, triggering a search and rescue operation for the four crew members involved in the crash near Psatha in the Attica region. Greece's fire department confirmed both aircraft had been taking part in an aerial firefighting mission and came down after colliding.
"During the aerial firefighting operation, two BELL helicopters, leased by the fire department, with a crew of two people each, crashed in the wider area of Psatha, Attica," the fire department said in a statement. "The helicopters had taken off from the Elefsina military airport. The search and rescue operation is underway."
Search and rescue under way after mid-air collision
The two helicopters each carried two crew members, meaning four people are currently unaccounted for. The fire service confirmed the aircraft had taken off from Elefsina military airport, west of Athens, and were working as part of the wider aerial firefighting operation. No further information was given about the four crew members in the fire department's statement, which focused on the ongoing rescue effort.
The incident comes as Greece suffers one of its most difficult wildfire seasons in recent memory, with intense heat and dangerous winds complicating the response. The search and rescue operation is continuing, with emergency teams now covering the wider Psatha area, according to the fire service. The condition of the four crew members remains unknown. Firefighting helicopters often operate in close proximity, and accidents like this highlight the inherent dangers of battling blazes from the air.
Wildfires force mass evacuations across Greece
Almost 500 Greek firefighters have been dispatched to the region, reinforced by personnel from France and Romania, according to the fire service. The fires have forced thousands of residents and tourists from their homes and holiday accommodation this week.
On the island of Crete, flames have scorched large areas, temporarily driving approximately 8,000 people to flee to safety. On Friday, around 500 people, most of them tourists, were evacuated in central Greece as fires advanced. The islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos have also suffered outbreaks, adding to the strain on local authorities and emergency services.
Greece is not facing this crisis alone. Several other European countries are also battling serious wildfires this summer, as successive heatwaves create ideal conditions for blazes to ignite and spread rapidly.
Prime minister: 'extremely difficult days'
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the severity of the situation in a Facebook post. "These are extremely difficult days for our country, marked by extreme weather conditions and winds that, in many areas, reached as high as Force 10 on the Beaufort scale," he wrote. "These conditions have tested - and continue to test - the resilience of the Fire Service, the Civil Protection authorities, local government, and the citizens themselves."
Mitsotakis added that Greece has invested more than ever before in strengthening civil protection, with more aerial and ground assets, new technologies and additional personnel. "Yet, there are times when the nature and intensity of weather phenomena surpass all human planning and operational capabilities," he said.
Fire officials have not released additional details since the initial statement, and it is unclear how many rescue units are involved in the search. What is known is that four crew members were aboard the two helicopters, and that the operation is being treated as a high priority. The collision is a reminder of the risks facing firefighting crews, who are operating in extreme heat and smoke conditions. The search and rescue operation remains ongoing.
