Two firefighting helicopters from Greece collided midair on Sunday while fighting a wind-propelled wildfire near Athens, with one chopper crashing to the ground and resulting in the death of two crew members. The deceased individuals included one Greek and one Danish national, while the two survivors were one Greek and one British national.
The incident highlighted the risks faced by emergency responders at the forefront of Europe’s wildfire crisis. As strong winds fueled flames near the Greek capital, fresh evacuations were ordered. Meanwhile, in France, a fire continued to burn an area four times the size of Paris, but in Spain, the major fires were no longer spreading.
The helicopters involved in the collision were Bell aircraft operating in the Psatha region west of Athens, each manned by a two-person crew. Foreign firefighting teams and helicopter units are frequently called upon in Greece to assist in combating wildfires during the scorching summer months.
The rapid spread of the fire in western Attica posed a threat to local communities and an industrial zone near Megara. Adverse weather conditions hampered aerial firefighting efforts by preventing aircraft from refilling water from the sea. The situation evoked memories of the tragic 2018 Mati wildfire, which claimed the lives of 104 people, marking Europe’s deadliest blaze in the 21st century.
Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were deployed to tackle the blaze, but strong winds impeded their progress, pushing the fire through the dry forests. As smoke billowed over the mountains, residents of Kandili, Agia Skepi, and Toutouli were urged to evacuate, with particular concern for Porto Germeno, a coastal community on the Gulf of Corinth. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was briefed on the ongoing operation.
In France and Spain, massive wildfires prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, straining emergency services and highlighting the escalating wildfire threat across Europe. The continent, experiencing accelerated warming trends, has witnessed devastating wildfires, with human-caused climate change exacerbating fire risks.
France grappled with its largest wildfire as thousands remained displaced, while Spain faced a season of deadly blazes. Efforts to contain the fires were underway, with a focus on preventing flare-ups in fire-prone areas. The need for a unified approach to combat wildfires was emphasized by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, underscoring the destructive impact of climate change on fire incidents.