Two firefighting helicopters collide mid-air while operating near Athens as Greece battles active wildfires, according to multiple outlets citing Greece’s fire service. The collision occurs in the Psatha region of Attica, west of Athens. The helicopters had been deployed to fight the fires, and they depart from Elefsina military airport, carrying two crew members each. After the crash, forces are immediately mobilized for a search and rescue operation. Reports agree that crews are located and recovered, with differing details on the condition of individuals: some sources say all four crew members are recovered, while others state that one crew member is rescued and that the search continues for the other. The Greek fire service describes an ongoing rescue effort, while Deutsche Welle reports Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warns of extremely difficult days ahead and an expert refers to a “megafire.” Separate reporting also notes that wildfires are spreading across parts of Europe, including France and Spain, as well as Greece.
Two firefighting helicopters collide mid-air near Athens while battling wildfires
Two firefighting helicopters collide mid-air while operating near Athens as Greece battles active wildfires, according to multiple outlets citing Greece’s fire service. The collision occurs in the Psa...
- Two firefighting helicopters collide mid-air while operating near Athens.
- The crash occurs in the Psatha area of Attica, west of Athens.
- The helicopters were carrying two crew members each, with departures reported from Elefsina military airport.
- The Greek fire service launches search and rescue operations immediately after the collision.
- Reports indicate some or all crew members are recovered, with differing accounts of injuries/condition and whether one search remains ongoing.
"Forces were immediately mobilized for a search and rescue operation for the crews, which is underway," the announcement by Greece's fire department read.
6 minutes from nowAs Greece fought to contain a fast-moving wildfire crisis, two fire helicopters collided west of Athens, underscoring Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s warning that the country faces “extremely difficult” days ahead. The hired Bell helicopters crashed while tackling a blaze in the Psatha area, the fire service said. “Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilised to […]
43 minutes agoThe four crew members were recovered after the collision, the Greek fire department said, adding that two were recovered safely, while the other two were unconscious.
45 minutes agoBoth helicopters had two people on board at the time, according to the fire service.
54 minutes agoThe hired Bell helicopters collided while battling a wildfire in the Psatha area west of Athens.
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