In brief
Two firefighting helicopters collided over Greece, killing a Danish pilot and a Greek fire‑service liaison officer and leaving a British pilot alive. The accident occurred 65 km west of Athens as crews were battling wildfires on the Attica‑Boeotia border. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed deep sorrow and sent condolences to the families. All Bell helicopters in Greece have been grounded pending investigation, and efforts to fight the fires continue with other aircraft types.
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 coordinator on the second helicopter survived with minor injuries.
Video footage captured the collision 65 km (42 mi) west of Athens, showing one Bell helicopter striking the blades of the other. The struck aircraft burst into flames and crashed in a ravine, while the second landed safely in low vegetation. The survivors were taken to hospital for precautionary observation.
Wildfires broke out across Greece this week, prompting mass evacuations. Similar blazes have scorched Spain and France during the prolonged heatwave, with areas east of the Mediterranean still burning.
According to the Greek Fire Service, both helicopters were leased from Australian company McDermott Aviation. The two crews aboard one aircraft were rescued alive; the second crew were recovered unconscious and later pronounced dead.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the loss of the Greek coordinator and the Danish pilot “fills us all with grief” and extended condolences to their families.
McDermott Aviation’s founder John McDermott noted the company’s willingness to cooperate with authorities on the investigation and to assist further if required.
Firefighting continues with Erickson Air‑Crane and Chinook helicopters as well as Canadair water‑bombing aircraft, pursuing the stark spread of the blazes across the Peloponnese, Fokida and other areas.
